Car Hire in israel - Getting to israel

Egypt is the only one of Israel’s neighbours to formally recognize the country, so arriving by land is a hassled affair. Jerusalem and Tel Aviv both have international airports with flights to many European centres and several North American cities. Direct flights arrive from a few Asian cities but not Australia. Many prefer to fly with the overly security conscious El Al. There is also an international airport in Gaza and Eilat, with limited services.

Buses are the other means of traveling, with services between Jerusalem and Amman in Jordan, as well as Tel Aviv and Eilat to Cairo. Taxis and hire cars are not permitted to cross the borders.

Land crossings in to Lebanon and Syria are not possible and both these countries will refuse you entry if an Israeli immigration stamp is found in your passport. There are three border crossings to Jordan - the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge, the remotely located Jordan River and Arava in the extreme south, but the formalities are cumbersome. There are three crossing into Egypt’s Sinai desert, the most popular being from Gaza and Eilat.

A ferry service runs between Haifa and Crete or Cyprus.