On our 2015 visit to Israel we drove around the southern part of the country visiting the cities of Bethlehem, Jericho, Be’er Sheva, Kiryat Gat, Jersalem and Ein Gedi (among many others towns that we passed through). The driving in Israel was fairly straightforward, although the driving in the Palestinian territories was notably a bit more eccentric than in Jerusalem. 
Driving in Jerusalem felt like driving in any city in the western world (for the most part).
Driving in Jerusalem, Israel.
Driving in Jerusalem, Israel. You can see the Temple Mount in this picture (if you look closely).
Driving in Jerusalem, Israel.
Driving into Bethlehem, Israel.
Driving into Bethlehem, Israel. The wall between Israel and Palestine is visible on the right.
Driving into Bethlehem, Israel.
Because Bethlehem is in Palestine, most the signs on the buildings are in Arabic instead of Hebrew like in Israel.
Driving in Bethlehem, Israel.
Driving in Bethlehem, Israel.
Driving in Bethlehem, Israel.
Driving in the Palestinian Territories in Israel.
Driving in the Palestinian Territories in Israel.
Driving in the Palestinian Territories in Israel.
Driving in the Palestinian Territories in Israel.
Driving in the Palestinian Territories in Israel.
Driving in the Palestinian Territories in Israel.
Driving in the Palestinian Territories in Israel.
Driving in the Palestinian Territories in Israel. We noticed that the environment in the Palestinian Territories seemed to be more run down than in other areas of Israel.
Driving in the Palestinian Territories in Israel.
Driving in the Palestinian Territories in Israel.
Driving in the Palestinian Territories in Israel.
Driving in the Palestinian Territories in Israel.
Driving in the Palestinian Territories in Israel.
Driving in the Palestinian Territories in Israel.
Driving in the Palestinian Territories in Israel.
Israel is really quite a pretty country… it didn’t look anything like how we thought it would.
Driving in the Palestinian Territories in Israel.
Driving into Jericho, Israel.
While driving through Jericho, we saw quite a few mosques. The city is claimed by Palestine.
Driving in Jericho, Israel.
Driving in Jericho, Israel.
Driving in Jericho, Israel.
While we were driving through Jericho, we contemplated the tram that went to top of these mountains (the supposed place where Jesus had encountered the devil). We wondered how anyone would REALLY know if this was the place, since Jesus was alone and all.
Driving in Jericho, Israel.
Driving in Jericho, Israel.
Driving in Jericho, Israel.
Driving in Jericho, Israel.
The Palestinian flag in Jericho.
Driving in Jericho, Israel.
There were lots of Palestinian flags that we saw driving through the Palestinian Territories…
The Zaccheus’ Tree in Jericho, Israel.
Driving past the Dead Sea in Israel.
Driving past the Dead Sea in Israel.
Driving near the Dead Sea in Israel was pretty straightforward and doable.
The area around the Dead Sea was uniquely pretty.
The sun setting behind the desert mountains in Israel.
We kept heading south until we got to Be’er Sheva (20 miles from the Gaza Strip).
Driving in Israel.
The environment changed the further south we went in Israel.
Driving in Israel.
The sunset was GORGEOUS when we got to Be’er Sheva.
Driving in Israel.
Always a McDonald’s… Even 20 miles from the Gaza Strip.
We eventually decided to go back north toward Kiryat Gat and Jerusalem.
We’d initially planned to go see the Gaza Strip (from the outside), but there was some road construction that got in our way. So we took it as a sign to head back to our rental in Jerusalem.
The area close to the Gaza Strip did feel more edgy than other parts of Israel, but we didn’t see anything newsworthy actively happening while we were there.
Related Posts:
The Dead Sea, Israel: Photo Gallery
Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, Israel: Photo Gallery
Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Israel: Photo Gallery
Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel: Photo Gallery
