A total of 847 samples were collected during winter 1998 from commercial orchards, collection plots and nurseries of the main fruit tree growing areas of Palestine. Sampling was determined by the economic importance and distribution of species and varieties. ELISA, sap transmission to herbaceous hosts and graft transmission to GF305 were used for the detection of viruses and virus-like diseases. A total of 466 plums, 196 almonds, 100 apricots, 45 peaches and 40 cherries were individually tested in ELISA. Of the tested trees, 18.7% were infected by at least one virus. The following viruses were identified: Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), Prunus necrotic ringspot virus(PNRSV) and Prune dwarf virus (PDV). The highest incidence of ACLSV was in cherry (25%), of PNRSV in peach (26.7%), and of PDV in almond (13.3%). None of the following viruses was detected: Plum pox virus (PPV), Apple mosaic virus (ApMV), Tomato ringspot virus(ToRSV), Raspberry ringspot virus (RpRSV), Tomato black ring virus (TBRV), Strawberry latent ringspot virus (SLRSV), Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV) and Cherry leaf roll virus (CLRV).