10 things to know before visiting Israel, the West Bank and Gaza

7 minute read
Updated 5:50 PM EDT, Wed March 25, 2015
Daily life in Jerusalem: A boy plays with a soccer ball in front of the Dome of the Rock. It's one of several key religious sites, all contained within a tiny area, making anyone's first visit to the Old City unforgettable.
A look inside Jerusalem —
Daily life in Jerusalem: A boy plays with a soccer ball in front of the Dome of the Rock. It's one of several key religious sites, all contained within a tiny area, making anyone's first visit to the Old City unforgettable.
AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images
Ultra-Orthodox Jews look out over the Dome of the Rock. Israel took control of the eastern part of the ancient city in 1967 and considers Jerusalem its capital, but the international community doesn't recognize its claim of sovereignty over East Jerusalem. Palestinians maintain that the eastern part of Jerusalem should serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
Dome of the Rock —
Ultra-Orthodox Jews look out over the Dome of the Rock. Israel took control of the eastern part of the ancient city in 1967 and considers Jerusalem its capital, but the international community doesn't recognize its claim of sovereignty over East Jerusalem. Palestinians maintain that the eastern part of Jerusalem should serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
David Silverman/Getty Images
A man sticks a note into the Western Wall. This is part of the original Jewish temple complex in the Old City.
The Western Wall —
A man sticks a note into the Western Wall. This is part of the original Jewish temple complex in the Old City.
Uriel Sinai/Getty Images
People look at the Isaiah Scroll, one of the Dead Sea Scrolls, in the vault of the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum. With more than 200 museums, Israel has the highest number of museums per capita in the world. Here is a <a href="http://travel.cnn.com/best-israel-museums-361281">list of 10 of the best</a>.
A country of museums —
People look at the Isaiah Scroll, one of the Dead Sea Scrolls, in the vault of the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum. With more than 200 museums, Israel has the highest number of museums per capita in the world. Here is a list of 10 of the best.
Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images
Christian pilgrims hold a wooden cross as they take part in the Good Friday procession along the Via Dolorosa. The Via Dolorosa leads to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Christian tradition says Jesus was crucified and buried.
'Where Jesus walked' —
Christian pilgrims hold a wooden cross as they take part in the Good Friday procession along the Via Dolorosa. The Via Dolorosa leads to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Christian tradition says Jesus was crucified and buried.
Uriel Sinai/Getty Images
Jewish men attend the Kohanim prayer, or priest's blessing, for Passover in April 2011. The city has its own medical condition, Jerusalem Syndrome. About 100 tourists each year succumb to the psychiatric disorder linked to the city's atmosphere of intensity.
A city with its own medical condition —
Jewish men attend the Kohanim prayer, or priest's blessing, for Passover in April 2011. The city has its own medical condition, Jerusalem Syndrome. About 100 tourists each year succumb to the psychiatric disorder linked to the city's atmosphere of intensity.
Uriel Sinai/Getty Images
In among the holy sites, daily life roars on: Souks crowd the narrow, stone-flagged alleyways; children go to school; libraries jostle with restaurants. Here, a soldier buys candy at the Mahane Yehuda Market.
Life amid holy sites —
In among the holy sites, daily life roars on: Souks crowd the narrow, stone-flagged alleyways; children go to school; libraries jostle with restaurants. Here, a soldier buys candy at the Mahane Yehuda Market.
MARINA PASSOS/AFP/Getty Images
Children play in a fountain at a park in Jerusalem.
A look inside Jerusalem —
Children play in a fountain at a park in Jerusalem.
Uriel Sinai/Getty Images
Israeli police stand guard as Palestinian Muslims perform Friday prayers outside Jerusalem's Old City. Palestinians are mostly Arab and chiefly Muslim, but there are substantial minorities of Palestinian Christians and others.
Religious identity —
Israeli police stand guard as Palestinian Muslims perform Friday prayers outside Jerusalem's Old City. Palestinians are mostly Arab and chiefly Muslim, but there are substantial minorities of Palestinian Christians and others.
AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images
Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock are seen in March 2010.
Photos: A look inside Jerusalem —
Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock are seen in March 2010.
David Silverman/Getty Images/FILE