A combined routes' search for most bus companies & trains is provided in Otobusim website.
* Public buses and trains do not operate during Shabbat - Friday afternoon until Saturday evening.

Train - Israel Railways:
Israel has a network of advanced trains which are excellent for exploring central and northern parts of the country. All trains are air-conditioned. The leading routes are between Tel-Aviv and Haifa, Akko, Ben Guryon internation airport and Be'er Sheva. You can also check out the detailed Israel Railway Routes Map.  

It is recommended to save your seat in advance. Call Israel Railways at 03-6117000 or check online www.rail.co.il 

Car Rental Options for Independent Travelers
Car rental around the world is not as difficult to arrange as you might imagine. When you book your holiday there is usually the option of adding car hire to a flight deal or sea crossing as travel companies now realize that most people want to be independent when they travel abroad and prefer to have their own transport when they arrive.

If you are traveling without a fixed agenda then you may choose to rent cars as you go along, traveling to different countries. This has the advantage of letting you be a Spontaneous independent traveler but you may end up paying more for car hire by signing up on the day. You can always book a few days ahead from an internet café whilst travelling and you could still get a discounted rate for car rentals.

Renting a car in Israel is a very good option, as public transportation in rural areas (both in the north and south) is infrequent and doesn't reach all the tourist attractions. It's not a pricey option as well - for a couple renting a car will be cheaper than taking buses, mainly if you rent the car for more than 2-3 days. With your own car you will be the one determining the schedule and it will enable you to reach unique travel destinations more easily, such as the Dead Sea and the Negev desert. However, there is no need to have a car in the main cities (Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem) and due to the heavy traffic it should be avoided.

If you hire a car in Israel it will be a left hand drive as traffic drives on the right. Getting around is fairly easy as road signs are in three languages - Hebrew, Arabic and English. Since the country is relatively small the average driving time between the main attractions won't be more than 2-3 hours.
Road sign formats are similar to the rest of the world and streets that are designated as no parking zones will have red and white markings between the highway and footpath. Blue and white signifies parking with a permit.

Driving in Israel can be a bit daunting for tourists as locals in towns and cities drive aggressively. Road etiquette certainly does not apply here and the best advice is to go with the flow and be acutely aware of what all the other road users are doing in your immediate vicinity.

To drive as a foreign visitor in Israel you will need a full driving license from your home country as well as an International Driving Permit. This is a requirement if you intend to hire a car in Israel.
If you hire a car then you must sign a contract, which includes agreeing that you do not take the car onto Israel`s only toll road, Highway 6. If you break the agreement the rental company will charge you the extra fee when you return your vehicle.

If you intend do travel around once you arrive then you may wish to consider checking out the cheap car hire Israel has to offer. Rental vehicles are available from the airport or other cities or you can book in advance from other car hire companies online, ensuring that your car is ready and waiting when you arrive.

Flights to/from Israel:
Ben-Gurion International airport is the major airport of Israel. It is located only 20 km (12.5 ml) from Tel-Aviv and 50 km (31 ml) from Jerusalem. You can easily reach both cities from the airport by car, bus or train.
The best option to get to Tel-Aviv is the train. To Jerusalem you can use the excellent shuttle service by Nesher.