IX. BUSINESS TRAVEL Business Customs ---------------- Israel has a professional and westernized business environment in which most U.S. business persons will feel at home. Israelis arrive well-prepared for meetings, come straight to the point, and are very direct. Appointments can be made on fairly short notice, but punctuality is desired. Business cards are recommended. Business suits are appropriate for meetings with private sector companies and government officials, but business travelers will find business dress in both private sector and government offices to be much less formal than in the United States especially April- October. English is widely spoken in the business community and in government offices. Israeli business people understand that given the size of the domestic market they must operate internationally to survive. As a result, they generally are very accessible to U.S. companies and their representatives. A working week is usually five days; common office hours are from 8:00am-4:00pm, Sunday - Thursday. Some businesses are open on Friday, from 8:00am-1:00pm. Appointments can usually be scheduled on short notice Sunday through Thursday. Although some businesses may be open on Friday mornings, almost all are closed Friday afternoons and Saturdays. Travel Advisory and Visas ------------------------- Generally, American citizens do not require visas to enter Israel. Passports of American tourists and business persons are stamped at the port of entry. Visitors who plan onward travel to Arab countries with no diplomatic relations with Israel may request to have their Israeli entry visas stamped on a separate form at the port of entry. Passports, an onward or return ticket, and proof of sufficient funds are required for entry to Israel and the occupied territories. A three-month visa may be issued for no charge upon arrival, and may be renewed. Anyone who has been refused entry or experienced difficulties with his/her status during a previous visit, or has overstayed a visa, can obtain information from the Israeli Embassy or nearest consulate regarding the advisability of attempting to return to Israel. At present, U.S. citizens may enter and exit Gaza and the Jericho area on a U.S. passport, without obtaining special permission from either Israel or the Palestinian Authority. However, permission must be obtained from Israel for anyone attempting to claim the status of a returning resident in Gaza or the Jericho area. For further entry information, business travelers may contact the Embassy of Israel, 3514 International Drive, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 364-5500, or the nearest Israeli Consulate General in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, or San Francisco. Holidays (Calendar Year 1995) ----------------------------- April 15 Passover (first day) April 21 Passover (last day) May 4 Independence Day June 4 Shavuot (Pentecost) September 25 Rosh Hashana (New Year - first day) September 26 Rosh Hashana (New Year - second day) October 4 Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) October 9 Succot (Feast of Tabernacles) October 16 Simhat Torah (Rejoicing of the Law) Note: Jewish and Moslem holidays are determined according to lunar calendars hence their dates changes from year-to-year. Business Infrastructure ----------------------- Language: Hebrew and Arabic are the two official languages. English is the second most commonly used language and the principal language for business communications. Due to the diversity of the immigrant population most Israelis are multilingual. Transportation: Israel has modern inland and international transportation facilities. A public bus service operates from sundown Saturday until sundown Friday. There is no public bus service on the Sabbath (except in Haifa) and Jewish holidays. Taxis are available 24 hours all year round. A railway system provides limited passenger service between Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem; and more extensive freight services from the northern part of the country to Beer Sheva (Negev) in the south. Israel's internal air services connect the major cities of Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem to the southern city of Eilat and to the Galilee region in the north. Communications: Israel's national and international telecommunications systems are advanced and constantly being upgraded to cater to increasing demand. Widespread use of computerized communications allow for immediate business links both domestically and internationally. The major telephone credit cards - AT&T, MCI, Sprint - can be used for long-distance calls. Hotels and Restaurants: Israel has a wide variety of good business hotels and restaurants. Most accept internationally recognized credit cards, especially Visa, Mastercard, Eurocard, American Express, and Diners. Israel offers a wide variety of international cuisine. Food and water is generally safe, although bottled water is often preferred and visitors should be careful of roadside food in very hot weather. Medical Facilities: Modern medical care and medicines are available in Israel. However, some hospitals in Israel and hospitals in Gaza and Jericho and the West Bank, fall below U.S. standards. Travelers can find information in English about emergency medical facilities and after-hours pharmacies in "The Jerusalem Post" newspaper. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States; supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage has often proved useful. Travellers can obtain additional health information from the "International Travelers Hotline" of the Center for Disease Control, Tel: (404) 332-4559.