Israel, Western Asia, Asia

ISRAEL : Overview

OVERVIEW

Israel is located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Known for its religious and cultural history, Israel is a popular tourist destination with 3 million people visiting in 2008 alone.  Overall, it is a developed country with a significant amount of information and resources for physically challenged travelers and senior travelers.

AbilityTrip thanks The Israel Government Tourism Corp and Access Israel for their cooperation and support.  They have posted a significant amount of information on accessible destinations – “For example, the summit of the Massada fortress near the Dead Sea is now accessible, and wheelchairs can now reach the upper level of the site. A special area on Masada has been adapted so that persons with visual disabilities can touch and feel the surroundings.”

LANGUAGE

The official language(s) of Israel are Hebrew and Arabic, although English is spoken by most as well. 

CURRENCY

The official currency of Israel is the Shekel

QUICKLINKS

LOGISTICS: Air – Water – Ground
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels – Resorts
ENTERTAINMENT: Tours – Activities – Restaurants & Nightlife
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Hospitals – Medical Equipment
ABILITYTIPS: Precautions

ISRAEL : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

Ben Gurion International Airport:  “Ben Gurion Airport’s ultra-modern terminal, Terminal 3, was opened in 2004 and serves all international flights.”   Please contact your airline directly to ensure your flight will be properly supported and assistance will be arranged according to your needs. 

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GROUND TRANSPORTATION

Public transportation in Israel does not fulfill the needs of the majority of the disabled population. 

Milbat: The Israel Center for Technology and Accessibility. Milbat, situated at the Sheba Medical Center (972-3-5303739) specializes in building, transport and other aides for people with disabilities. The center gives advice on transport solutions for people with disabilities. The website is written in Hebrew, but there is an English tab located at the top left of the website.

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SHUTTLE

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BUS

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TRAIN (Light Rail)

Israel Railways: According to accessibility regulations, a passenger with disabilities must notify the railway company at least 12 hours in advance of the trip. Notify Israel Railways by calling their national call center at 03-5774000 or abbreviated dialing code *5770. Before you plan to travel, it’s best to plan out the course to verify all stops are wheelchair accessible. Visit the Israel Railways website to verify accessible stops. All accessible trains and train stops are designated with the international symbol for access.

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FERRY

Add your accessible travel knowledge about ferry services for this destination.

ISRAEL : Accommodations

HOTELS

Access Israel: There are several types of accommodations in Israel. The most accessible options will be hotels.  Some information on house exchanges, B&B’s, etc. can be found on Access Israel. 

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ISRAEL : Entertainment

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

There are many featured trips and areas of access here.

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ACTIVITIES

Accessible Beaches: There are a variety of beaches located throughout Israel, which vary in levels of accessibility.

  Massada:  “For example, the summit of the Massada fortress near the Dead Sea is now accessible, and wheelchairs can now reach the upper level of the site. A special area on Masada has been adapted so that persons with visual disabilities can touch and feel the surroundings.”

 Jerusalem:  There are many accessible places including the open air market (shuk), the Western Wall and Yad Vashem (the Holocaust memorial) to visit in Jerusalem.

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RESTAURANTS/NIGHTLIFE

Add your accessible travel knowledge about restaurants and nightlife for this destination.

ISRAEL : Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL

Add your accessible travel knowledge about medical services and hospitals for this destination.

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT RENTALS

Yad Sarah: Yad Sarah is a volunteer organization with branches all over Israel that lends tourists wheelchairs, crutches and other aides without charge and only a secutity deposit. More information is available on the Yad Sarah website or by calling +972-2-6444555.

Add your accessible travel knowledge about medical equipment rentals for this destination.

ISRAEL : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

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OTHER USELFUL LINKS:

www.goisrael.com

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