Frequently Asked Questions - Safety

Yes. Particularly in the Bethlehem area, it is safe to visit. We have run this program, and many other pilgrimages and delegations for internationals in this area, for many years and participants have consistently reported that they felt safe and comfortable during their visit.

We provide participants with a cell phone for their use during the program so that they can keep in close contact with Holy Land Trust staff and other participants as needed. We brief all participants on safety during the introductory orientation session. We also encourage participants to work and travel in pairs or in small groups.

We are constantly reassessing the situation on the ground in terms of safety and, if we felt for any reason that it was unsafe for participants to join us, we would cancel the program.

Yes. Many of the countries we encourage people to visit in order to build relationships with its people have Travel Warnings from the U.S. State Department. Please be aware of these warnings and take them into consideration. You can check the most recent travel warnings, find visa/passport information, and obtain other travel information from the State Department website: http://travel.state.gov

Again, the Bethlehem area is an extremely safe place to visit, but, when traveling anywhere in the world, it's important to take precautions.

Theft and pick pocketing are not common, but it is still very important to keep your money and valuables somewhere secure. Sexual harassment is not an unusual problem for female travelers in many parts of the world–if any participant experiences sexual harassment they are encouraged to report it to the Holy Land Trust or Middle East Fellowship staff immediately. We recommend everyone, especially female participants, travel in pairs or in small groups.

Certain areas in the Palestinian Territories are not safe to visit. These are areas we avoid. (For example: the Gaza Strip, which is disconnected from the West Bank).

Palestinians are extremely gracious and hospitable to guests. Culturally, it is considered a point of honor to treat all guests like kings and queens. In addition, Palestinians are almost always happy to see an international presence in the Palestinian Territories for a variety of reasons. For one, tourism is an important component of the economy. Palestinians are also eager to meet international travelers and share their views and their personal stories. Holy Land Trust is very well respected in the surrounding community and many local residents are aware of our goals and the services through volunteers that we try to provide.

Yes. We have had a number of Jewish participants on our programs.