Safety in Palestine: Many international volunteers, students, and interns who are interested in coming to Hebron, West Bank to serve with the Excellence Center express specific concern about the safety of living in Palestine. This is understandable as we know that unless you already have firsthand knowledge of the West Bank, most of your information is likely to have come from the often unfavourable media coverage of the region.
Media shows that Palestine is an active war zone
International media outlets frequently portray violence in the West Bank and some people upon hearing the name “Palestine” think only of TV images of war and turmoil. Internationals may come to Palestine with the apprehension that they will be living in an active war zone and unfortunately other potential volunteers – based on this media portrayal – may decide not to come altogether.
It is a fact that there are disturbances from time to time and the situation can be tense. However, internationals who come to Palestine find that they are largely able to live their daily lives without particular safety concerns above and beyond those typical of living in big cities. The purpose of this article is to provide an accurate overview of safety in Palestine. We hope to alleviate some of your worries.
Israeli Checkpoints in the West Bank
Israeli Checkpoints in the West Bank are commonplace and the military presence in occupied Palestine is pervasive, but problems affecting visitors to Palestine are rare. Although there may be occasional traffic delays related to checkpoints, visitors to Palestine are usually able to move freely throughout the West Bank cities. This is sadly not always the case for Palestinians.
Transportation
Public transportation in the West Bank is safe and affordable, with taxis and buses readily available for transport within Hebron and to outlying cities.“I always feel very safe and welcomed on public transport,” says Teach English Speak Arabic volunteer Melanie Lipinski from Canada.
Taxis and “servees” or group taxis are very easy to catch in Hebron, with set rates to certain areas of the city. Buses or group taxis are also available for rides to nearby cities including Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Ramallah. These drivers are often excited to have foreign visitors in Palestine and are especially welcoming to the international customers.
The atmosphere at the Excellence Center
This warmth and eagerness of Palestinians to please international guests are characteristic of staff and students at the Excellence Center as well as Palestinian people at large.
International visitors often express amazement at how they are instantly welcomed, often invited into homes to share meals and friendship. If you are volunteering at the Excellence Center or staying elsewhere in Palestine, it is almost certain that you will be offered the opportunity to visit new friends and share meals with them in their own homes, attend family events and enjoy conversation, sharing stories about each other’s lives and culture. Please do not be taken aback by this- Palestinians are extremely hospitable, welcoming people and will do their best to make you feel comfortable.
Hospitality in Palestine
This attitude of hospitality is pervasive not only within the Excellence Center itself but also on the streets of Hebron, where foreign guests find what is, at times, an almost overwhelming welcome. Visitors – especially foreign women who do not wear the hijab – stand out in Hebron and are greeted almost constantly in the streets.
Locals are excited to practice their English and jump at the opportunity to speak with international volunteers. Although this can at times be tiring for visitors, the warmth and generosity of Palestinians usually greatly outweighs any slight inconvenience.
Palestinians are eager to meet and host internationals
Noor Siaj is an Excellence Center Palestinian student whose family has welcomed international visitors into their home in the past. He states that he loves spending time with the international volunteers, interns, students or visitors, and is especially grateful for the opportunity to practice his English.
Most Palestinians enjoy sharing about their own culture with visitors and are genuinely interested in learning about their foreign guests as well. For many years there were few visitors to the West Bank and Palestinians appreciate the opportunity to share their culture and experiences with internationals- it is a way for them to have their voices heard and to raise awareness of what life is like in Palestine. Also, most Palestinians relish the chance to develop their English language skills and find out more about other cultures. You will probably find some distinct cultural differences but also many similarities too.
Learn about new cultures
“We love to learn about international cultures, and share our own culture in return,” says local Excellence Center teacher Yousef Sabarna. This attitude is common among Palestinians, who freely offer help with any issues or questions volunteers might have related to living in a different culture.
Safety at night: Walking in Hebron streets
Like in any city, women should be particularly careful about walking alone at night, staying mainly in well-lit and busy pedestrian areas if possible. “I did have one bad experience,” writes Cara Van Dusen, a volunteer from America. “I was walking down a quiet street at dusk when a teenage guy started following me and grabbed me.
He was just a kid so I could push him away, but it’s made me more wary about walking by myself. Overall, I still feel very safe here…what happened to me could have happened anywhere and is not specific to Palestine. I’m just generally more aware of my surroundings now, and especially cautious at night.”
Nevertheless, Cara did come back a second time to volunteer with the Excellence Center, participating in the Teach English Speak Arabic Program.
She was a volunteer in the fall of 2015 as well, when she says she fell in love with the people and culture of Hebron, Palestine. Although Israeli-Palestinian tensions were especially high during the fall of 2015, she expresses that she still felt safe in Hebron, Palestine.
“There would sometimes be clashes between Israeli settlers, Palestinians, and soldiers, but these were easy to avoid, and locals were a great help with this. Now that I’m in Palestine again things feel much calmer, and clashes are rare. Palestine has always been so much more than the fighting we see in the news, and there are so many beautiful and deeply kind people here that I’ve been honored to meet. I feel safe and loved, and would encourage anyone thinking of volunteering to come and experience this for themselves.” Cara added.
Palestine is safer than some Western Cities
It is easy to trust the people of Hebron and visitors can generally walk alone on the streets without concern for theft or potential problems. “I feel incredibly safe in Palestine,” says Lauren Souz , an Excellence Center volunteer from the United States.
“I actually feel much safer than in America…I’m never harassed, and never have any problems. I have been bothered by the attention at times, but have never felt unsafe.”
We recommend that visitors behave sensibly, remaining aware of their surroundings and respectful of the local customs and traditions. We do not anticipate any problems for our international visitors. The Excellence Center is always happy to give advice and provide information.
What does the Excellence Center Coordinator say?
“Most of Hebron and Palestine is very safe,” writes Excellence Center Coordinator Marwa Shantir. “There are sometimes problems in the Old City” she explains, “but even then it is not usually dangerous for foreigners.”
During times of increased tensions, visitors may need to be aware of the situation and avoid certain areas or routes due to clashes or road closures. In such instances, they can rely on locals and public transportation operators being familiar with these problems and adapting accordingly.
Final remarks
The safety of our guests and volunteers is one of our top priorities. We want to ensure everyone who stays with the Excellence Center has a positive experience. We also want to note that our Center, our teachers and staff have deep ties to the community in Hebron. Therefore, our volunteers are known by the locals of the city and are welcomed throughout. As Cara expressed in a letter to us, “I feel safe and loved, and would encourage anyone thinking of volunteering to come and experience this for themselves.” These sentiments are echoed by numerous other foreign volunteers, interns, and visitors we have had the privilege to host and teach over the last several years.
We recognize that those considering coming to volunteer at the Excellence Center in Hebron, Palestine will have initial concerns about safety. For this reason, we want to assure everyone who is expressing interest to come and work with us that safety risks are minimal. Transportation is reliable and safe. Streets are no more dangerous than those in larger cities in the West.
Most importantly of all, we are committed to demonstrating that which Palestine is truly known for—an incredibly hospitable community that is eager to share their culture with foreigners and have them experience a deeper understanding of Palestine, its history and its people. We hope that all visitors to the Excellence Center- and to the West Bank in general will have a pleasant and memorable stay. International visitors help to ensure that Palestine is seen and that Palestinian voices are heard by other parts of the world. This is vital to raise awareness of the reality of life in Palestine. It helps to dispel any misconceptions and false representations. This in turn means that more people are encouraged to come to Palestine and experience its rich culture for themselves.
We look forward to welcoming you to Palestine!
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