Israel has apparently switched up its visa rules in respects to visitors also wishing to travel to the West Bank, under control of the Palestinian Authority. While before one visa applied to both regions, meaning a person travelling to Israel could also travel into the West Bank and then back to Israel.

Now it seems Israel is effectively refusing to issue visas to any visitor who intends to visit the Palestinian Authority. Although the policy is being implemented sparingly, it can still abruptly ruin a person’s travel plans.

The Palestinian Authority has protested the measures saying it unfairly restricts commerce in the West Bank. The US State Department has also issued a statement criticizing the new visa policies.

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Name: Kathryn

Question: I will be taking a train trip from Vancouver, BC to Toronto in last Sept/early Oct, 2009. I will spend a day in Toronto and then would like to see Buffalo and the Falls. Can you provide info on transportation from Toronto to Buffalo, as well as from Buffalo to the Falls and back. I will be renting a car in Buffalo and driving to Lake Placid, but I don’t know if it is advisable to rent the car and drive to the Falls or to use public transportation and wait to rent the car when I am about to leave Buffalo. Any info you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

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