Hi,
Would I expect any problems driving from Jerusalem through the West Bank to the Dead Sea/Masada & back in terms of line ups or delays? Realistic to consider for a long day trip?
I have also heard only certain car rental companies allow you to drive through the Palestinian territories - does that apply to the route I want to take?
Thanks
Huge numbers of people do this as a day trip. It is NOT a big deal! I had company and did it myself this summer. The hardest part is finding the start of highway 1 in Jerusalem. You then follow the signs.
ALL car rental companies allow you to do this. Rentals can not be taken into areas that are under the control of the Palestinian Authority. The area you are driving through is under the control of Israel and it is a political discussion as to whether they are or are not really Palestinian. ( which I won't get into unless certain others start in)
Let me put an end to your confusion.
The entire lengths of Hwy 90 and Hwy 1 are fully under the administration of ISRAEL, are completely safe for all to drive (including tourists) and are fully covered by insurance for Israeli rental cars.
Portions of these roads run through areas that technically speaking are part of territories conquered by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War. However, both roads (including the roads leading from Jerusalem to Masada) are so much in the consensus in Israel that most Israelis are not even aware that these roads run through portions of the "West Bank."
You will NOT be driving through Palestinian administered territories at all when you travel from Jerusalem to Masada via Hwy 1 east and Hwy 90 south. You have nothing to worry about it. Tourists do this drive all the time.
Enjoy!
Agree with the above.
Israel rental cars can be taken anywhere where Israel is in full control of security, which means anywhere except those areas under full Palestinian Authority control ("Areas A"). Since highways 1 and 90 from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea do NOT go through "Areas A", there is no problem taking a rental car along this route.
What you've been told here is not accurate.
When you drive from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, the road does cross through the Palestinian territory. You will be driving among Palestinian cars and past Palestinian cities villages, including Jericho. You will also drive past Israeli settlements established in that part of the Palestinian territory. You will have to cross checkpoints at the beginning and at the end of the road, when you leave and then reenter Israel, so take your passport with you and all the documentation of the car as well.
The road is currently controlled by the Israeli army. As a result, Israeli rental companies authorize their customers to drive on that road.
For any other travel in the Palestinian territory, you need to rent a car from East Jerusalem, as only these rentals allow you to drive in both Israel and the Palestinian territory.
#5 (catw)
What everyone wrote is completely accurate. If you think otherwise, please point out what specifically is wrong in any of the posts. All you are doing is - as usual - interjecting your political agenda. Nobody said whether the WB is Israeli or Palestinian territory, since that would be a political statement, which contributes absolutely nothing towards answering OP's question. You still don't understand that, as far as the average tourist is concerned, the fact whether it is Palestinian territory or not is totally irrelevant . So why do you keep insisting on posting your superfluous political agenda?
The West Bank is part of the Palestinian territory, along with East Jerusalem and Gaza. This is a fact.
Our fellow traveler politely asked whether the road to the Dead Sea crossed the Palestinian territory or not – yes it does.
Catw, I must interject here. You are only confusing tourists by your political comments.
YES, Hwy 1 east of Jerusalem does enter territories occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six Day War. But Hwy 1 and Hwy 90 are the EXCEPTIONS to every rule. Most Israelis are not even aware of any controversy concerning these two specific roads, so Western tourists will definitely not even notice they have entered any sort of different territory than Jerusalem or Ein Gedi for that matter.
From a tourist's point of view, the journey to Masada from Jerusalem via Hwy 1 East to Hwy 90 south is completely seamless and safe. The tourist has nothing to worry about driving on these two roads and the rental car policy is fully being respected.
You make it sound like this is an unusual journey. It's in fact the most popular route that any tourist renting a car in Israel will take in order to reach our number 1 most visited National Park - Masada.
#7 (catw)
Our fellow traveler politely asked whether the road to the Dead Sea crossed the Palestinian territory or not – yes it does.
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No he did not. He assumed in his question (rightly or wrongly) that the route crossed through Palestinian territory. That is why he was asking it. Again, stop interjecting your superfluous political opinions . Whether you are right or wrong is irrelevant. They contribute absolutely nothing to answering OP's question. As davetheguide said, you are only confusing tourists.