Is It Safe to Travel to Israel in 2026?
Israel, the West Bank and Gaza - Level 4: Do Not Travel
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
⛔ Do Not Travel
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to Israel or parts of Israel due to serious safety concerns. Key factors: terrorism, civil_unrest.
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. It is bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the southwest.
Is It Safe to Travel to Israel in 2026?
Israel is currently rated Level 4 — Do Not Travel by the U.S. Department of State. Travel to Israel and the West Bank is strongly discouraged due to ongoing armed conflict and civil unrest. Travel to Gaza is also strongly discouraged due to terrorism and armed conflict.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- terrorism
- civil_unrest
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: ongoing armed conflict, civil unrest, strongly discouraged travel.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks due to the ongoing armed conflict and civil unrest, particularly in areas like the West Bank and Gaza where violence is prevalent.
Business travelers are at extreme risk due to the unstable security situation, which disrupts operations and poses threats to personal safety in all regions of Israel and the West Bank.
Families traveling with children face extreme risks as the ongoing conflict and civil unrest create an unsafe environment, particularly in areas with high tensions like Gaza and the West Bank.
Remote workers will find it extremely risky to operate in Israel due to the ongoing armed conflict and civil unrest, making it unsafe to stay or work in any region.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Israel.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- Israel
- West Bank
- Gaza
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel3 regions
▶Gaza
Travel is not advised due to terrorism and armed conflict.
▶Israel
Travel is not advised due to ongoing armed conflict and civil unrest.
▶West Bank
Travel is not advised due to ongoing armed conflict and civil unrest.
Israel has 3 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Israel has an overall threat severity of 9.9 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 4.0/10, terrorism risk 9.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Free — scored 74/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
New Shekel (ILS)
Language
Hebrew
Vaccinations
Recommended:
Active health notices:
- alertGlobal Polio: Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines.
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Israel
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Israel?
▶Is it safe to travel to Israel right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Israel?
▶What vaccines do I need for Israel?
▶Is Israel safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Israel?
More Israel Data
Free — 74/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.