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Israeli New Shekel
The New Shekel is the currency used in Israel. It came into being in 1985 and at this point, it was worth 1,000 old sheqalim. The new shekel is worth 100 agorot.
The new shekel is a hard currency, this means that it can be traded on the global markets and is perceived to be a reliable and stable currency. It is also widely available and can be accessed almost anywhere in the world.
The new shekel is not actually produced in Israel because the country does not have a mint. Instead it is produced in southern Korea. The Israeli new shekel is identified as INS.
The history of the new shekel
The new shekel has a relatively short history due to the fact that it was only introduced in 1985. The shekel which had been in circulation prior to this had only been in circulation between 1980 and 1985. Before this, the Israeli lira or Israeli pound had been used between the years of 1948 and 1980. Israel, as a nation, only came into being in 1948. So the history of Israel's currency, is correspondingly short.
The Money
There are a range of coins available, from 5 agorot, 10 agorot, and ½ of a new shekel, to 10 new shqalim. (The shqalim is the plural of the shekel).
Notes which are in circulation are, 20 NIS, 50 NIS, 100 NIS and 200 NIS.
Polymer notes are being introduced in 2008, initially for the 20 NIS notes, but eventually all notes will be produced in polymer.
Acquiring the New Israeli Shekel
The new Israeli shekel is relatively easy to acquire. Israel is well provided for in terms of ATM machines. This is actually the easiest way to get shekels when you are in the country. You are able to bring in any amount of currency both local and foreign into Israel. Due to the fact that the new shekel is a hard currency you will be able to purchase shekels prior to your visit. However, you may need use a main bank i.e. a bank in a major city, or you may need to order your shekels about a week in advance, just to ensure that you receive them on time.
If you do plan to use your debit or credit card to get shekels in Israel, it is always worth notifying your bank or credit card provider before you travel, that your card will be used in Israel. This is simply a security measure to ensure that your card has not been stopped because fraudulent use is suspected.
Traveller's cheques can also be taken in and banks tend to operate every day apart from Friday and Saturday. Their opening hours are 8.30 am until 12 noon and then 4 pm until 6 pm. So it is relatively easy to get to a bank.
When in Israel you can also use your credit card to pay for most items, however commission on credit cards can be charged at quite high a rate, which means that they are not always good value for money. But using your credit card can be exceptionally convenient.
Looking after your shekels
Israel is not the safest country in the world to visit. Whilst it is not constructive to be alarmist, travellers really should be aware that there is a risk of terrorist attacks. If you are planning a trip to Israel, then you should check the political situation prior to booking your holiday. You should also check any advisory notices that may have been issued by the Foreign Office to assess the level of risk before you travel.
Generally it is the driest that travellers should not visit the Gaza Strip or the West Bank. This is due to the risk of being kidnapped if you are a foreign national. You should also be aware of that the Israeli Gaza border is a very unsafe area due to constant rocket fire being exchanged by Israel and Palestine.
Travellers are also reminded to be vigilant wherever they are in Israel and not to become complacent about security and safety.
However, it is possible to visit Israel and be perfectly safe. Nevertheless it is worth exercising caution when travelling to Israel and within Israel.
In Jerusalem, travellers should also beware that there have been attacks on bars and restaurants, particularly those that may be frequented by foreign nationals. So, whilst it may be relatively safe in Jerusalem, caution should be exercised and travellers need to be aware of who is around them at any given point.
However, the security alerts are the main issues to be considered when travelling to Israel. Whilst in the country you are not likely to be subject to violent crime or anything other than a minor petty crime, the main risk is the risk of a terrorist attack.
Using your shekels
Once you have assessed the risk and decided that you want to travel to Israel, you will find, that if it is safe to travel you will be very likely to have a good holiday. Due to the continued risks associated with travelling to Israel, many potential travellers have stayed away. This means that anyone going to Israel is likely to find that they will be able to get some good deals and that their money will go just that little bit further.
Israel does have quite a lot of facilities to offer for travellers and at times, its tourism trade has been quite buoyant. This means that it has the infrastructure up to be able to accommodate travellers.
Most people in Israel speak Hebrew and Arabic, and English is spoken as the third language, so you will not have any problem communicating. For some reason, Israel is not to everyone's taste. Many people say that you either love Israel or you really do not like it. It has even been described as being the rudest country on earth. The people can be quite loud and gregarious, which some people may find a little hard to handle. This aspect of Israel actually makes it quite an interesting place to visit, just to find out whether or not you do love it or you simply want to come home.
When in Israel make sure that you do not take any pictures of military personnel or photos of tanks or any other piece of military equipment. If you do you may find yourself arrested.
As a general rule, travellers to Israel are not encouraged to talk about politics, particularly the political situation with regards to Palestine. People are extremely tense about this issue and any attempt to discuss it may be viewed as rude or potentially aggressive. So avoid any discussions on this issue.
You should also be aware that Israel is a very holy country for many people of varying different faiths, who are there to see religious and very holy sites. Respect should be shown to religious travellers as well as people practising their own faith in Israel.
As a country Israel is relatively liberal and tolerant, but religion is important and there is a feeling that visitors must respect people practising their religion.
Attractions in Israel
Because Israel has such a long history and is so closely associated with both the Christian and Judaic religions, it has many historical sites that people wish to visit and experience at first hand. Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus also to tends to attract a number of Christian visitors throughout the year.
Jerusalem is also a very holy city and people come here from all over the world to experience Jerusalem and its very rich history. Jerusalem can be quite busy and it is an interesting blend of a very ancient city operating in the 21st century.
Other historical towns are Jericho and Nazareth and some Christians also wish to visit Galilee because of the association with Jesus.
Many of the sites that people the visit due to their religious significance, have changed somewhat since the days of Jesus and the early Christians and often, people complain that they have become quite commercialised and people feel that there is too much emphasis on money being made from tourists. However, the basic areas described and mentioned in the Bible are still there.
Tel-Aviv is the city which is the best equipped to offer tourists an excellent holiday because it is not only a city but it has some fantastic sun-drenched beaches as well as extremely vibrant nightclubs and some amazing designer shopping at very good prices. It may not be the most historic cities, but it can be a very good place for a holiday, depending on the political situation. Tel Aviv is often described as being Israel's New York, in the sense that it never seems to sleep and there is always something to do, see or look at and all tastes are catered for! Tel-Aviv is particularly popular with young travellers who enjoy the very vibrant nightlife as well as families who just want to have a nice beach holiday, with all the facilities of a city nearby.
Overview
It is almost impossible to predict when or when it is not safe to travel to Israel. The situation can change from month to month. This means that an area that has been safe may become dramatically unsafer virtually overnight. However, sometimes areas have been deemed to be unsafe and yet they have only experienced isolated incidents.
Really, the onus is on a potential traveller to research how safe it is to travel to Israel at any given point and to follow any advice given, to ensure safety is maintained.
Israel certainly does have a lot to offer and although there is a risk of terrorist activity, there are few places remaining in the world, where the risk of terrorist activity is extremely low, so the threat should be seen in context.
So, whilst it may not be possible to travel to Israel at the drop of hat, if you do your research carefully and thoroughly, it can still be a destination that will offer an exceptionally interesting and potentially relaxing holiday. As a result, it should not simply be dismissed as a potential holiday destination.
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