24 Shekels Increase in Just 4 Years.. Departure Tax at the Karama Crossing Rises to 182 Shekels Starting Early 2026

Special to "SadaNews": "Sada News Agency" learned from an informed source that the Israeli side has raised the departure tax for Palestinian travelers at the Karama crossing starting next Thursday, which is the first day of the new year 2026, to 182 shekels.

With this increase, the departure tax rises by four shekels, as it was 178 shekels during the current year, while in 2024 it was set at 172 shekels, and in 2023 at 167 shekels, and in 2022 it was 158 shekels, meaning it has increased by 24 shekels, or about 14.3%, in just four years.

This tax is imposed on every Palestinian traveler passing through the crossing from the age of two and above.

The decision to raise the tax value is attributed to the Israeli occupation authorities, which typically increase the tax at the beginning of each year, under justifications related to exchange rates, without contributing any percentage of this increase to the Palestinian treasury.
 
According to the Paris Economic Protocol signed between the two parties in 1994, Israel and the Palestinian Authority are supposed to share this tax, but the value of the increase imposed by the Israeli side for several years has not been adhered to regarding sharing, and the Palestinian Authority states that Israel has withheld more than a billion shekels of its share of this tax for several years.

A Palestinian Finance Ministry official noted in a meeting with journalists that Israel only commits to paying (11) dollars, or about (40 shekels or less) to the Palestinian Authority for each traveler's tax, which is the same amount that Israel approved when signing the Paris Economic Protocol, refusing to recognize any additional amounts after the increase.

On another note, the Israeli side announced through a notice published at the crossing about procedures regarding the transfer of funds via the crossing.

The Israeli side demanded that everyone declare their entry or exit of funds through the crossing (including cash, checks, traveler's checks, and gold), with a total value not exceeding (2000) Jordanian dinars either individually or collectively.

The announcement stated that a declaration must be submitted electronically through the tax authority's website, and the form must be sent between 72 hours to 24 hours prior to reaching the crossing, so that the confirmation of the form is presented at the customs checkpoint in the passenger hall.

The announcement warned anyone who violates the instructions that they expose themselves to what it termed "the penalties stipulated by law," which could include imprisonment or a significant financial fine.

An informed source confirmed to "Sada News" that the new aspect of this announcement is not the amount declared but rather how to report it, as previously individuals had to declare this amount while passing through the crossing, whereas the new procedure requires them to formally declare it through an electronic website before arriving at the crossing at least (24) hours in advance.