Mobile phones & SIM

In Palestine (West Bank), the mobile phone is very popular.

You can buy SIM cards, or even also mobile phones inside Palestine.

Palestinian mobile network operators

There are two mobile network operators in West Bank.

Palestine origin, a long-established operator.

Roaming doesn’t work in Israel (checked in 2011). Call to Jawwal in Palestine is very cheap, also in Jordan through Jordanian networks.

Qatar origin, established in 2009 in Palestine.

Roaming with Cellcom in Israel. Price is a bit more expensive than Jawwal.

A call would be cheaper between the same operator. Check in advance which operator is popular among your friends, then choose the one.

In Israel, there are some biggest operators; Cellcom, Partner, and Pletephone. You can also buy SIM cards from them easily.

There are many mobile phone shops everywhere. Tell them you want to buy a SIM (maybe with a phone), that’s it.

There are many types of phones. Even iPhone can be found (from 400 NIS at second hand), or the ones only with call and SMS from 100 NIS.

SIM itself costs from about 10 NIS without a top-up.

Before going to mobile shop, don’t forget your passport to buy a prepaid SIM.

Top-up can be done at not only mobile shops, also grocery stores with Jawwal or Watania marks.

Tell cashier that you want a top-up with which operator and how much.

The minimum top-up amount is 10 NIS or 15NIS.

Normally they sell Top-up prepaid cards. Get a PIN by scratching, then call top-up number and press PIN. It’s done.

But top-up call might be difficult because it’s in Arabic. In that case, ask the cashier or your Palestinian friends a help.