The Menahem Begin Border Terminal is located approximately 10 km south of Eilat, and constitutes the most southern border crossing point within the State of Israel.
The Terminal offers a view of the countries bordering southern Israel: Jordan and Egypt.
The Terminal is a passageway between the State of Israel and Egypt. Passengers eligible to cross the border include Israeli citizens and foreign tourists, who are holding a valid passport or laissez-passer with an Egyptian visa, new immigrants and Palestinians holding an Israeli laissez-passer. Pilgrims use the crossing for pilgrimage to the holy sites in Israel: Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem and the St. Catharine's Monastery in Sinai.
The Terminal was established at the foot of a steep mountain, with the Egyptian Border stretching on one side, and a coastal strip declared as a nature reserve on the other. Due to its special geographic location, the Terminal's area is limited to a narrow strip, 45 metres wide and 200 metres long. Approximately one million passengers and 70,000 vehicles pass through this confined space every year.
History:
1978 – The Peace Treaty between Israel and Egypt is signed and the Menahem Begin Border Terminal is opened for passage on the 26th of April 1982, one day after Israel's withdrawal from Sinai. Initially the Terminal operated inside a tent, while caravans and sheds were added at a later stage. Eventually the present building was erected.
March 1989 – International arbitration over the Menahem Begin Region concludes with the decision that the public beach, Rafi Nelson's Village and the Sonesta Hotel be handed over to the Egyptians. The consequences of this decision were an increase passenger traffic volumes and intensive activity at the Terminal. Due to the lack of an alternative, the Terminal is opened for operation 24 hours a day.
September 1995 – Traffic at the Terminal hits a new record, with 1,038,828 passengers and 89,422 vehicles crossing the border through the Terminal.
2000 – The events of the Intifada (Palestinian uprising) and the Israel-Palestinian Conflict affect passenger traffic, with a 9% drop in volume.
2003 and 2004 – Traffic volume at the Terminal re-stabilizes.
September 29, 2016 – Ceremony for renaming the terminal as the Begin Terminal.
Milgam
Currency exchange
Foreign currency withdrawal using a credit card
Selling passage fee vouchers On the company's website.
Payment of customs duties and tax refund to tourists.
Telephone: 072-2457350
Cafeteria
Automatic machines for selling beverages.
Drive-in booths for handling private vehicles.
Banking services by Milgam.
MEMSI services.
Duty Free shop.
Passport Control.
LFFU – Liaison with Foreign Forces Unit – for coordinating and communicating the passage of foreign military forces through the Terminal.
The Terminal is accessible to and suited for assisted passengers. The passageways at the Terminal have been widened, which makes passages through them continuous and convenient.
The car parks have designated parking spaces for the disabled located near the Terminal building. The pavements at the Terminal are sloped and suitable for wheelchairs.
Wheelchairs are available to assisted passengers free of charge.
Assistance from the Terminal staff is available within the frame of the service at telephone:
Office of the duty manager: 08-6360976
Useful Links:
Access Israel
Ministry of Tourism – Accessible Tourism
Access Unlimited
Ezer Mizion
Yad Sara
Milbat
- By taxi from Eilat.
- Egged line No. 15 – from the Eilat Central Bus Station.
- Egged line No. 30 - from Ramon Airport.
Further information on the Egged website or by phone *2800
- Tourist companies' buses.
Parking:
Due to construction work, it is not possible to park in the parking lot near the terminal. There are regulated parking lots at the entrance of the city of Eilat.
