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Israel (стр. 2 из 2)

Getting Around By air

Inland Hights in small and medium-sized propeller aircraft can be booked through Arkia Airways. The airports served are Beersheba, Eilat, Haifa, Jerusalem, Rosh Pina, Sodom and Tel Aviv.

By car

Driving in Israel is easy and convenient, as the road network is comprehensive and well maintained. The only difficult aspect, as elsewhere in the world, is the parking situation in the town centers. Traffic regulations differ only minimally from those prevailing in Europe. It is advisable; however, to pay attention as infringements can result in a heavy fine. The main rules to remember are that speed limits are in general 40–50 kph in the built-up areas, 80 kph on country roads and 90 kph on motorways. Parking spaces are marked by blue-and-white pavement markings; prohibited parking by red-and-white ones. To assist orientation most road and information signs are written in three languages: Hebrew, Arabic and English.

Car rental is relatively expensive, and fuel is not exactly cheap. Parking is restricted at all times of day and night. Cars, however, provide independence from public transport, which does not run from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening. The minimum age for renting a car is 21 years; a national driver's license is sufficient if you aren't staying in the country for more than one year.

Public transport

Buses are infinitely superior to all other means of public transport, including trains. For this reason, every town has its own bus station. Egged, the government-run bus company runs timetable services with its blue vehicles to almost all towns in the country and to Cairo. Tel Aviv is also served by the Dan bus service. All bus companies offer inexpensive rover and tour tickets.

Israel also offers an unusual form of transport for short distances: a synthesis between taxi and bus. Sherut taxis are multiple-occupancy taxis which run along specific routes and which do not set out until all seats have been taken. Depending upon the distance traveled, each passenger contributes to the cost.

Compared with the comprehensive network served by the buses and multiple-occupancy taxis, the train link between Tel Aviv and Nahariya-Haifa seems very modest.

Fads for the Visitor

Visas

The only requirement for entry is a passport valid for at least six months. Tourists are permitted to stay for up to three months in Israel without further formalities. For longer periods the Ministry of the Interior readily grants residence permits.

If you want to continue your journey from Israel through an Arab country, you should insist that your date of entry into Israel is not stamped into your passport but on a separate form. With the exception of Egypt and Jordan, most Arab countries refuse entry to tourists who have visited Israel. Should you wish to travel on to Egypt or Jordan, make sure you obtain a visa in advance from the embassy in Tel Aviv. Visas for southern Sinai can be obtained in Taba.

Customs

Apart from items for personal use, visitors may import duty free one liter of spirits, up to two liter’s of wine, 250 cigarettes, 250 ml perfume, 10 films and gifts to a total value of US$125. Items such as video recorders of all kinds, computers or diving equipment must be declared. If these are intended for personal use, no duty will be charged but a deposit linked to the value of the goods in question must be paid.

The shekel and the Agorot are the official units of currency.

There is no limit to the amounts of foreign currencies, which may be imported, but Israeli shekels may be imported up to a maximum value of only US$500. In view of the currency losses resulting from the considerably less favorable exchange rate offered outside Israel, it is unwise to export shekels. Before leaving the country, however, only a maximum, again, of the equivalent of US$500 may be changed back into foreign currency without a receipt. If receipts are presented, however, unlimited amounts of NIS can be changed. The moral: keep currency receipts.

Credit cards are widely used and accepted. Traveler’s checks will also be accepted without difficulty.

Foreign currency can be changed in any bank and at the specially designated bureau de change, as well as in most hotels.

Tipping

There are two attitudes to tipping in Israel. Firstly an appropriate tip is given for good service. Included in this category is the obligatory tip for porters. The second variation is that based on the Arab tradition: guests hoping for particularly friendly service during their stay offer the tip upon arrival, thus opening up the prospect of an equally high tip upon departure. Sherut taxis are not tipped; cab drivers don't need to be, but it will be appreciated.

Opening times

All shops and institutions are closed during the Sabbath.

Normal Business Hours: Sunday to Thursday 8. 30 am‑1 pm and 4 pm‑7 pm, Friday and public holidays 9 am-l pm. Bazaars close at dusk; department stores are open all day.

Banks: Sunday to Thursday 8. 30 am-l 2 noon and 4 pm‑5.30 pm; Monday, Wednesday and Friday: mornings only.

Official bodies: Sunday to Thursday 8 am‑12 noon.

Newspapers

Most newspapers are written in Hebrew, including the Maariv and Haarnen. The English-language daily newspaper Jerusalem Post and the weekly magazine Jerusalem Report are amongst the most reliable sources of information in the country.

Literature

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/Israel

2. Trenneld, Martin. 2007. Israel. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press