Israel,
the West Bank and Gaza
Travel Warning
U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv Travel
Restrictions
The U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv distributed
the following Warden Message on December 30, 2008:
"Today’s Warden Message alerts U.S.
citizens to current IDF operations in the Gaza Strip and ongoing rocket
attacks from Gaza by militants and terrorist organizations into Israel.
U.S. Government employees, for the time being, have been restricted from
travelling within a 30 KM radius of the Gaza Strip, inside of which the
vast majority of rockets and mortars have fallen. To travel inside the
30 KM radius, the Embassy’s Regional Security Officer’s approval is
required. Further, no U.S. government official travel is permitted
inside the Gaza Strip.
Militants and terrorist organizations
in Gaza continue to launch numerous rocket and mortar attacks against
Israel. On December 28 and 29, several longer-range missiles landed in
Ashdod, located about 35 KM from Gaza. On December 29, a longer range
missile also landed in Yavne, which is just north of Ashdod. Though USG
employees’ travel is restricted to 30 KMs, American citizens should be
aware that militants and terrorist groups could launch additional
longer-range missiles that may land well beyond the 30 KM radius and to
take appropriate security measures.
Employees at the U.S. Consulate
General in Jerusalem have been advised to exercise caution and avoid
crowded public locations in Jerusalem. These USG employees’ travel to
the West Bank has been further restricted.
Due to spontaneous demonstrations
against IDF operations in Gaza, it is recommended that American citizens
avoid traveling on Highway 65 in the Wadi Ara area between Highway 6 and
Highway 66, which is near Um-El-Fahm and is en route to Afula. These
demonstrations, which can occur with little or no warning, make traffic
unpredictable; demonstrators also have thrown stones at passing
vehicles.
American citizens should stay current
with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings
at all times.
American citizens
traveling abroad should regularly monitor:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This Travel Warning is being issued to
update information on the general security environment in Israel, Jerusalem,
the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, and to reiterate threats to American
citizens and U.S. interests in those locations. The security situation in
northern Israel has improved, with a halt to rocket firing into Israel from
southern Lebanon following the August 14 cessation of hostilities between
Israel and Hizballah as called for by UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
While the cessation of hostilities largely has been honored by both sides,
the situation remains tense and a possible resumption of sporadic violence
cannot be ruled out. Violent demonstrations and armed conflicts between
supporters of the Hamas and Fatah factions and clashes between the Israeli
army and Palestinian militants have increased in the Gaza Strip and the West
Bank. Overall conditions of lawlessness prevail in the Gaza Strip,
including the recent kidnapping of journalists. Areas of violent conflict
shift rapidly and unpredictably. This warning supersedes the Travel Warning
issued July 19, 2006.
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Security conditions have improved in
northern Israel with a halt to rocket firing into Israel from southern
Lebanon following the August 14 cessation of hostilities between Israel and
Hizballah as called for by UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The
cessation of hostilities largely has been honored by both sides. However,
because the situation remains tense and a possible resumption of sporadic
violence cannot be ruled out, the Department of State urges U.S. citizens to
remain mindful of security factors when considering travel to Israel and
Jerusalem at this time. In addition, the Department of State urges U.S.
citizens to defer travel to the West Bank and to avoid all travel to the
Gaza Strip.
American citizens in the Gaza Strip should depart immediately, a
recommendation the State Department has maintained since the deadly roadside
bombing of a U.S. Embassy convoy in Gaza on October 15, 2003. This
recommendation includes American journalists and aid workers. U.S.
government personnel are currently prohibited from all travel in Gaza.
Militants have abducted Western citizens recently, including an American
citizen television journalist and a New Zealand citizen cameraman who were
working for an American news organization, and terrorist organizations have
threatened attacks against U.S. interests.
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Services such as current passport, visa, inoculation and vaccine
requirements as well as emergency medical evacuation,
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Violence between the Israeli Defense
Forces (IDF) and militant groups based in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank
can flare up without notice in the form of rocket attacks into Israel by
Palestinian militants, targeted assassinations of Palestinians in the Gaza
Strip by Israeli forces, and ongoing IDF security operations in Gaza and the
West Bank. The uncertain security conditions within the West Bank and Gaza
continue as well, with the potential for violent protests, kidnappings,
including of foreign nationals, and fighting between various armed
factions. Daily inter-Palestinian violence in the Gaza Strip has spread to
the West Bank. An American citizen was kidnapped and held captive for
several hours by armed militants in the West Bank in June 2006.
In recent months, citizens of Western nations, including Americans, involved
in pro-Palestinian volunteer efforts were assaulted and injured in the
Occupied Territories by Israeli settlers and harassed by the IDF. Those
taking part in demonstrations, non-violent resistance, and “direct action,”
are advised to cease such activity for their own safety.
For safety and security reasons, U.S.
Government American personnel and dependents are prohibited from traveling
to any cities, towns or settlements in the West Bank, except for
mission-essential business or other approved purposes. For limited,
personal travel, U.S. government personnel and family members are permitted
to travel through the West Bank, using only Routes 1 and 90, to reach the
Allenby/King Hussein Bridge or the Dead Sea coast near Ein Gedi and Masada.
Each such transit requires prior notification to the Consulate General’s
security office and must occur during daylight hours. U.S. Government
personnel and family members are permitted personal travel on Route 443
between Modi’in and Jerusalem during daylight hours only, also with prior
notification. Travel to the Gaza Strip by U.S. Government personnel is
prohibited. Private American citizens also should avoid travel to these
areas.
All travelers who enter or travel in the Gaza Strip or the West Bank should
exercise particular care when approaching and traveling through checkpoints
and should expect delays and difficulties. Travelers should also be aware
they might not be allowed passage through checkpoints.
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Israeli authorities are concerned about a
possible increase in suicide bombings in Israel. The April 17 and January
19 suicide bombings in Tel Aviv, the December 5, 2005 suicide bombing in
Netanya and a similar incident in Hadera in October 2005 are reminders of
the precarious security environment. The U.S. Government has received
information indicating that American interests within Israel could be the
focus of terrorist attacks. For that reason, American citizens are
cautioned that a greater danger may exist in the vicinity of restaurants,
businesses, and other places associated with U.S. interests and/or located
near U.S. official buildings, such as the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and the
U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem.
Violent confrontation in Israel between
organized criminal elements in public places have involved the use of bombs,
grenades, anti-tank missiles, and small arms fire, and have taken place in
cities frequented by tourists. In the past several years, some of these
incidents have led to the death and injury of innocent bystanders.
The State Department urges American
citizens to remain vigilant while traveling anywhere in Jerusalem,
especially within the commercial and downtown areas of West Jerusalem.
Israeli security services report that they continue to receive information
of planned terrorist attacks in and around Jerusalem. In addition, American
citizens should stay away from demonstrations and generally avoid crowded
public places, such as restaurants and cafes, shopping and market areas and
malls, pedestrian zones, public transportation of all kinds, including buses
and trains and their respective stations/terminals, and the areas around
them. Spontaneous or planned protests within the Old City are possible,
especially after Friday prayers. Some of these protests have led to violent
clashes.
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U.S. government personnel are prohibited
from using all public transportation. The Old City of Jerusalem is
off-limits to them after dark during the entire week and between the hours
of 11:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. on Fridays. U.S. government employees are also
forbidden from patronizing discos and nightclubs.
Any American Citizen who intends to
travel to Israel, Jerusalem, the West Bank or the Gaza Strip in spite of
this and prior warnings should carefully review the Consular Information
Sheet for Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. That reference
describes other potential dangers and difficulties and offers detailed
security recommendations. Palestinian-Americans face many additional
obstacles and regulations that are described in that document.
Americans who remain in Israel,
Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are strongly encouraged to
register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv or the
Consular Section of U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem through the State
Department's travel registration website,
https://travelregistration.state.gov.
U.S. citizens who require emergency services may telephone the Consulate
General in Jerusalem at (972) (2) 622-7250 or the Embassy in Tel Aviv at
(972) (3) 519-7355.
Periodically the Embassy and Consulate
General may temporarily suspend public services to review their security
posture. As a consequence of the current limitations on official travel to
the West Bank, and the prohibition on travel by U.S. government employees to
the Gaza Strip, the ability of consular staff to offer timely assistance to
U.S. citizens in these areas is extremely limited.
Current information on travel and
security in Israel, Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank may be
obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the
United States, or, from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. U.S. citizens should
consult the Consular Information Sheet for Israel, the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip; the Middle East and North Africa Public Announcement; and the
Worldwide Caution Public Announcement at the Department’s Internet website
at
http://travel.state.gov.
Up-to-date information on security conditions can also be accessed at
http://usembassy-israel.org.il
or
http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov.
For Information
About How to Protect Yourself, Your Family, Your
Employees, and Your Trips Abroad,
Contact our Risk Managers today.
info@internationalriskmanagement.com
877-211-3654 or 559-294-0316
Click Here
for
Instant Quotes & Online Purchase
for Global Travel,
Medical & Life Insurance
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