Country Information

Country Code: . All hotels offer direct dial phones, but these can be pricey. Calling cards can be bought from newsagents and used in phone booths, or newsagent coin-operated phones. The international dialling code for Israel is +972.

Mobile phone connections are excellent, even in rural areas, and roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. It is possible to rent mobile phones or sim cards in Tel Aviv airport.

Internet is widely available and Wi-Fi is commonly found in cafés and hotels.

Israel has vibrant and exceptionally diverse media, produced in Hebrew, Arabic, English and Russian, expressing all viewpoints and spanning the entire political spectrum. All publications are privately owned, and there is no state interference with editorial. News in English is broadcast on radio and TV several times daily. The main daily newspapers are Ha'aretz (www.haaretzdaily.com), Ma'ariv (www.nrg.co.il) and Yedioth Aharonoth (www.ynetnews.com). The main English-language daily is the Jerusalem Post (www.jpost.com).

Most Israeli households subscribe to cable or satellite TV, with a big package of foreign news networks, including Sky, BBC World, CNN and Al-Jazeera. The Israel Broadcasting Authority operates public TV Channel 1, and there are several commercial terrestrial channels.

Post office branches can be widely found throughout the country. Postal services include registered mail, express, EMS and poste restante. FEDEX and DHL are also represented. Airmail to Europe or the US takes up to one week.

May vary but are generally Sun-Tues and Thurs 0800-1200 and 1530-1830, Wed 0800-1330 and Fri 0800-1200. All post offices are closed on Shabbat (Saturday) and holy days, although central telegraph offices are open throughout the year.