Israel for the Solo Woman Traveler
If you want the short answer – solo female Israel travel is completely safe. Israel is a cosmopolitan and liberal country, but (and there is a but) in some areas you need to behave with caution because of the political situation and presence of ultra-religious Jews and Muslims. You will be able to move around freely and safely in almost all parts of the country. Israel is the most Westernized and only democratic country in the Middle East. If you’re planning to travel further in the Middle East then Israel is a great introduction to the region’s ethnic peculiarities.
Most likely your trip to Israel will be fun, sun and amazing experiences in exotic and ancient cities. But just to be on the safe side it is important to look at the potential dangers and be aware of how to avoid getting into trouble. Life in Israel is probably a lot safer than in Europe or America simply because there is such a lot of security in Israel. There are security checks at supermarkets, malls, schools, museums etc.
The general risk of danger from typical crimes is low in Israel. The country is relatively safe in terms of muggings, drunken violence etc. You just need to use the same common sense as you would when traveling to any western country. Don’t totally trust strangers, don’t drink too much, behave respectfully and don’t go down any dark alleys by yourself in the middle of the night!
The Israeli Personality 101
You can forget about the image of the submissive, male-controlled women of the Middle East. In Israel the women are on a par with men, they are proud, educated, strong, vocal and independent. Israelis tend to be more outgoing, louder and forthcoming than travelers from the west are used to. Israelis have no problem staring at you and striking up a conversation; it is a matter of different social norms. It is also a great opportunity to get to know the locals. If you are not interested in getting the unwanted attention then ignore any over-friendly approaches, don’t make eye contact and keep walking. If you want to avoid unsolicited attention on the beach then stick to the more popular beaches and don’t go wandering along non-central empty beaches where you could be isolated alone with an unwanted stranger making romantic overtures.
Israeli men are notorious flirts; if you’re not interested let them know up front. Israeli men may seem overbearing and project a macho image. The language barrier can make their flirting seem blunt and even rude but for the most part the soft heart of the Israeli may be just lost in the translation. In fact their direct approach to asking girls out and telling them what they think can be quiet refreshing.
Knowing Where You’ll Be Safe
It is wise to check out your country’s government website for foreign travel advice about safety in Israel before you leave home. The advice is usually very general like “keep vigilant and follow advice of the security forces.” Israel is a country with a unique political and geographical situation where danger tends to be in specific areas of the country. Don’t let this put you off as it does tend to sound like all doom and gloom which it really isn’t.
Most government websites recommend not traveling to Gaza; within 500 meters of the Lebanese border (the Blue Line) and east of route 98 along the Syrian border. The US government strongly warns against travel to the Gaza Strip. If traveling to the West Bank you need to take special precautions. There have been attacks on vehicles traveling along route 60 which connects Jerusalem to Hebron and Nablus within the West Bank. The Qlaandiya checkpoint between East Jerusalem and Ramallah, Jenin and areas close to refugee camps should be avoided. Other areas to think twice about visiting are Ramallah, Jericho (unless with a guided tour) and areas close to the Gaza strip. Avoid the Old City of Jerusalem at night if you are alone. During the day you should be able to travel in the Old City on your own without any problem. Friday afternoons in the West Bank, Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem and Muslim religious sites are particularly sensitive times when unrest could occur at short notice.
If you want to go to an area where you are nervous to go alone then use one of the Israeli tourism services like Bein Harim Tours which take tours to many destinations across the country including the West Bank, Bethlehem, Nazareth and across the border to Petra in Jordan.
If your travel in Israel is limited to the tourist destinations – Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee, Acre, Nazareth, Bethlehem or Eilat you need only concern yourself with common sense safety precautions for a solo female traveler. However if you plan on venturing into the occupied territories, West Bank or the areas mentioned above then you need to take further precautions because of the unique character of the Middle East.
A Few More Tips for Solo Israel Travel
Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance and always make sure that someone knows where you are at all times especially if you are making a trip into the West Bank. When visiting religious sites (whether they are Jewish or Muslim) like Mea Shearim, Temple Mount, Western Wall etc dress modestly. This means your shoulders should be covered and pants or skirts below the knee. For some sites you may need a head covering. If you are not going to any religious areas then you can wear whatever you want – tank tops, shorts etc. and no one will look twice. People do hitchhike in Israel but it is not recommended for solo female travelers. Respect local customs – stay in the women’s section of the prayer area by the Western Wall; dress appropriately; don’t take photos at Jewish religious sites on Shabbat or religious holidays; don’t blatantly eat non-kosher food in front of religious Jews and ask before you take someone’s photo.
