West Bank
<map lat='31.94' lng='35.25' zoom='9' view='0' float='right' height='550'/> Hitchhiking in the West Bank (Palestinian territories) is a game of chance, but still very common. Some people, especially Jewish settlers, tend to carry guns. Hitchhiking is popular especially among the settler's youth, although there were cases they were targeted by militants while hitchhiking.
Among the Palestinians, hitchhiking is not common at all − yet that does not mean it's difficult to get rides. For short distances especially, you are likely to encounter their hospitality and get a ride quite quickly. Notice that while they will wait in Israeli checkpoints, you will most likely have to wait with them.
For long distance either take a bus or service taxi (It is not too expensive) - or, hithchiking, try settler roads. If you have just a visa for the West Bank it will be hard to get on some of them sometimes, but just to get from North to South you can take the road No. 90 in the Jordan Valley. This road is shared from Israelis and Palestinians and the most of the Israelis will stop for you if you are waiting at a junction. Settlers are very good in giving a ride. Just try to avoid talking too much about your travels in Palestine terretories.
On many roads only cars with Israeli number plates are allowed.
Vulla In the West Bank is really common to Hitchhike. In the Trempyada you will always find many young jewish people even 8 at the same time( that's what i ve found on the 60 road), but don't worry you will always manage to find a ride. On the trempyada you will find soldier to protect the Jewish people, in recent time there was differents attacks by Palestinian against Jewish , when i HHed there, there was no problem but always pay attention. Don't be scared if you see some settlers HH with a machine gun. Probably he was a soldier. Travelling around you will understand many things about the complex situation.(January 2015)
Cities, places
Entering from Jordan
The border crossing procedure can be time consuming. guaka ended up in the West Bank when it was already dark. You're not allowed to walk away from the border crossing (which is also a military base) so you are left to the taxi leeches. They try to charge 30 shekels for a very short ride. There is also a shared taxi service to Jerusalem for the same price.
Crossing the Green Line to and from Israel
There are many roads with checkpoints from Israel to Palestinian terretories. Usually it is no problem to get into the West Bank. Leaving the West Bank is harder: The best is to get a ride with a Israeli settler on a Israeli road which have special settler checkpoints. You won't get checked if you look not too Arabic ;-) If you don't want to or you can't go with Israelis or settlers you need to find a checkpoint where it is allowed to cross by foot. The soldiers will check everything of you, but stay cool and always say that you just visited some religious sights because of you believe. Never tell them too much about your contacts to Palestinians. It is a pitty, but what can we do?
