Safety in Israel

The general picture: Israel lives in a state of permanent readiness, so armed personnel and bag checks at mall entrances are ordinary. The security is there for your protection and is handled professionally.
Sirens and shelters: If you hear a siren, you have between 15 and 90 seconds to reach cover. Modern flats have a reinforced room called a mamad; in older districts look for Miklat signs or step into a stairwell.
Photography: Never photograph military bases, soldiers on duty, airports or power stations. A selfie in front of a razor-wire fence can turn into a long conversation with the police.
Petty crime: Serious street crime is rare and the cities are comfortable to walk at night. The main irritations are drivers quoting a flat fare instead of using the meter, and pickpockets in the busiest markets.
The Dead Sea: Do not dive in and keep the water out of your eyes. If it gets in, rinse immediately with fresh water, because the burn will otherwise ruin the rest of your day.
Where not to wander: Do not walk deep into ultra-Orthodox neighbourhoods in revealing clothing, and stay out of villages beyond the tourist areas and away from border fences. Check your own government's travel advisory before you finalise a route, as the picture changes region by region.

Street fraud in Israel is limited and more persistent than dangerous.

Taxis without the meter. Drivers offer an "agreed price" instead of the meter — this is unlawful, and the meter (moneh) is compulsory at the passenger's request. The difference runs to one and a half or two times the fare. The Gett app settles it entirely.

Dead Sea cosmetics. Aggressive sellers work the malls of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and the airport: you are stopped, cream is applied to your hand, and a long negotiation with a falling price begins. The products are real, but the mark-up can be several-fold. The same brands sit cheaper in ordinary pharmacies.

Jerusalem's Old City. In the Christian and Muslim quarters haggling is expected and the first price is triple. It is not fraud but a format of trade — though a tourist who pays immediately pays three times over.

"Guides" at holy sites. People at the Western Wall and along the Via Dolorosa offer to show you round. Licensed Israeli guides carry a Ministry of Tourism badge — ask to see it.

Currency exchange. Use the bureaux on Ben Yehuda Street or in the Old City rather than the airport or your hotel: the difference reaches ten percent.

Shabbat. From Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall public transport stops, most shops close and many restaurants do not open. In Jerusalem's religious quarters — Mea Shearim and around — driving on Shabbat provokes a fierce reaction from residents, up to stone-throwing. Plan Friday and Saturday in advance: taxis and Gett run, but cost more.

Security checks. Bag searches at the entrance to malls, stations and bus terminals are normal. So are armed civilians in the street; it is not a cause for alarm.

Photography. Military installations, checkpoints, soldiers on duty and border zones are off limits. Drones require a permit and are prohibited over most of the country.

The Temple Mount. Non-Muslims have separate visiting hours and are barred from praying or carrying religious items. The rules are enforced literally and police respond immediately.

Drugs. Personal cannabis use has been punishable by fine rather than prosecution since 2019, but possession above the minimum quantity and any supply remain criminal. Importing anything is prohibited.

Ben Gurion airport. Departure interviews can be long and detailed, particularly if your passport carries Arab-country visas. It is standard procedure rather than suspicion of you personally — allow three hours.

Vaccinations. None mandatory, and no certificates are checked on entry.

Water. Tap water is drinkable nationwide, Eilat and the desert areas included. Bottled water is a matter of taste only.

Heat and dehydration. The main physical risk of the trip. Eilat, the Dead Sea and the Negev pass 40°C in summer at near-zero humidity — you do not feel yourself sweating and dehydrate without noticing. Go to Masada and into the desert early, and take twice the water you think you need.

The Dead Sea. Do not shave the day before, do not dive, and do not rub your eyes: the brine causes severe pain on contact and requires flushing. Cuts and grazes will sting. Keep your first swim to twenty minutes.

Jellyfish. From mid-July a swarm reaches the Mediterranean coast for roughly a month. The stings are painful but not dangerous, and local news reports the arrival in advance.

Healthcare. Among the best in the world, and for an uninsured foreigner extremely expensive. An emergency room visit runs into hundreds of dollars, admission into thousands. A policy is essential.

Emergency medicine is run by Magen David Adom on 101 — fast and professional.

Israel ranks high on the Corruption Perceptions Index: nobody takes bribes from tourists, and offering money to an officer is a serious mistake.

Police and military presence is heavy, and deliberately so: checks, checkpoints and entrance security are everywhere. It looks unfamiliar to a visitor but works in favour of safety.

Rocket alerts. The country runs the Tzeva Adom system: a siren, then a counted number of seconds to reach shelter. The Home Front Command app is free, available in English, and sends alerts for your area. Install it on arrival and find out on day one where your hotel's mamad — the protected room — is.

Border areas. Conditions near the Lebanese border in the north and around Gaza change. Before travelling there, check current Home Front Command restrictions rather than general travel advice.

The West Bank. Israeli citizens are barred from Area A; foreigners enter at their own risk. Bethlehem and Jericho are commonly visited on organised tours, which works.

Emergency numbers: 100 for police, 101 for ambulance, 102 for fire.