Communications in Israel

All major cities and small towns have post offices where postal service and additional services are available. Post offices are marked with red signs with a logo of a gazelle in white. Mailboxes on the street are also red, and easy to spot. Information about the location of the branches of the post office is available on the Israel post website.

Post Office Hours

Most post offices are open on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 15:30 - 18:30, on Wednesdays from 8:30 - 12:30, and from 8:00-12:00 on Fridays and days preceding holidays. Post offices are closed on Shabbat and holidays. Additional details are available by phone at 1-700-500171.

Additional Services

The post office also delivers post cards, aerograms, letters, or packages abroad by air or surface mail. Postage rates are determined according to weight, destination, and the manner of shipment.

All items can be sent by express, registered mail, or EMS - an international rapid postal service that delivers to 133 countries. This service enables computerized follow-up of the shipment and insures each item. Items sent by EMS to large cities in Europe and the United States arrive in two to three days.

Telegrams can be sent abroad from any post office or by phoning 171. The price of a telegram is determined by the number of words.

Faxes can be sent or received to and from Israel or abroad at any post office. Faxes received from another post office branch are sent and received free of charge. Post offices will also read faxes to recipients or send them to the recipient’s post office branch.

Post offices also sell stamps, aerograms, picture postcards, stamped post cards, greeting cards, envelopes, and materials for wrapping packages.

Additional information about the various postal services is available on the Israel Post website.

Poste Restante Service for Tourists

All post offices in Israel offer poste restante service to tourists. Poste restante is held for up to 30 days after it arrives. After that it is returned to the sender. Tourists can receive poste restante service at one destination for up to three months.

Mail sent as poste restante must be marked “poste restante” and addressed with the name of the town where it will be received and the full name of the recipient. Recipients of poste restante must identify themselves by showing a valid ID to the postal clerk when receiving mail.

Changing Currency and Cashing Travellers' Checks

Tourists can exchange currency or cash travellers' checks at any post office. There are no fees for these services.

Sending and Receiving Money by Western Union

The Israel Post Office works in cooperation with Western Union. Money can be sent abroad or received from abroad in a few minutes’ time via Western Union’s international branches. Money arriving in Israel is delivered in Israeli Shekels. The recipient must present identification and details of the transfer. Additional information on transferring money is available by phone at 1-800-365636 or 1-800-213141 or from the Western Union website: www.westernunion.com

Telephone Service

Telephone service in Israel is provided by the “Bezek” company which operates a modern, convenient telephone system as well as other services. Overseas calls can be placed through three different phone companies:

Barak- Dial Code 013 1800-013013 or 1838.

Bezek- Dial Code 014 1-700-700000 or 188

Kavei Zahav - Dial code: 012 1-800-012012 or 1822

Overseas call rates vary according to the destination. It is worthwhile to compare prices and verify which company offers the cheapest rates for the country you wish to call.

When dialing overseas, dial the three-digit dial code of the company (012, 013, or 014) followed by the country code, area code, and telephone number.

To dial Israel from abroad, dial the country code for Israel 972 followed by the area code without the “0” (for example to dial 02-000 0000, dial 972-2- 000 0000.

Public Phones

There are public phones on the main streets of all cities and towns that are operated by magnetic cards (in Hebrew “Telecart) that are available at post offices, supermarkets, and kiosks. The cards are easy to use and are good for local, intercity, or international calls.

There are also coin-operated phones in restaurants and shops, but the rates for these phones are higher than the card-operated phones.

Overseas calling booths are also available in the following places:

Jerusalem: 3 Koresh St. (Derekh Yafo 236) Sundays through Thursdays from 8:00 - 21:00, and Fridays from 8:00 - 14:00

Tel Aviv: 13 Frishman St., Sundays through Thursdays from 8:00 - 23:00, and Fridays from 8:00 - 14:30

Cellular Phones

Cellular phones are now in widespread use in Israel. Most Israelis, including children, have at least one. There are three companies that operate cellular phone networks - Pelephone, Cellcom, and Orange. Cellular phones can be rented from any of these companies at Ben Gurion Airport.

It is against the law in Israel to talk on a cellular phone while driving without using a speaker phone. If you are renting a car and plan to use a cellular phone, request a car with a speakerphone.

Faxes and Telegrams

Faxes and telegrams can be sent on weekdays 24 hours a day from the telegraph offices in the major cities.

Tel Aviv - 7 Mikveh Yisrael St. (open on Shabbat and Holidays)

Jerusalem - 23 Derekh Yafo

Haifa - 22 Ha-Nevi’im St.

Be’er Sheva - 9 Shderot Ha-Nesi’im, open from 7:30 - 19:00


Internet and Email

Most businesses and private homes in Israel are connected to the Internet, and many businesses have websites and can be contacted by email. There are Internet cafes in the major cities which charge by the hour.

Some hotels provide Internet access for guests, and the more exclusive ones have Internet connections in the rooms as well.