holley

I'm going to Israel soon. Not sure exactly when yet, but probably next spring. Being a Christmas fanatic, I'm really interested in visiting Bethlehem, but I saw on the US government site that they are not recommending travel into the West Bank right now.

How serious is this? It's my understanding that sometimes you can still visit Bethlehem when other areas of the West Bank are closed. Can anybody recommend a good information source that can keep me up to date on the security situation and give sound travel advice?

Mamamia

I would make a decision when you're already in Israel. Things can change there really quickly. Bethlehem is relatively safer than other areas, but still, things might change.

P_M

I visited Bethlehem this year and it was a thrill. I was with a tour so we had to sign releases due to the State Department's warning, but it all seems silly in hindsight. I never once felt unsafe there and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested, especially if you are a Christian. Please go, you will be sorry if you don't.

holley

Thanks. I will probably ask once in Israel, but who? Can hotel staff be counted on to give good advice in this regard? Or will it be completely obvious if I'm not supposed to go, like I'll be hearing shooting all the way from Jerusalem?

P_M

You can count on the hotel staff for guidance and yes it would be really obvious if something bad were happening. But I'm betting you'll be OK. Enjoy your trip.

holley

I'm reviving this thread with a related question. I've read a couple of iteneraries that seem to imply that Highway 90 is traversable from the Dead Sea area all the way up to the Galilee, straight through the heart of the West Bank. Clearly from the earlier posts, I'll need to check daily when I get there, but the whole idea just seems so outlandish to me (having been fed a steady stream of U.S. media) that I have to ask. Is it just silly of me to tentatively plan this route? Or is it really usually safe?

Mamamia

That highway goes staright up North along the Jordan valley, not thru the West Bank. It is all under Israeli control, BUT terror attacks HAVE occured there in the past... So while many Israelis, especially those LIVING there, are using that road... I wouldn't send a tourist there to use that road....