Coming to Israel this afternoon or late morning on Wednesday, or going to the airport to meet friends and relatives?
President Barack Obama also is coming, and you are well-advised to take the train and forget about driving.
President Obama has not yet boarded Air Force One in Washington, but Highway 1, the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway that bypasses Ben Gurion Airport, already will be closed to traffic for one hour from around 1:15 p.m. Tuesday because of the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
That is only the preview of what is in store for tomorrow, when the president arrives around noon and will stay at the airport to view the Iron Dome anti-missile system.
There will be a repeat closure of Highway 1 last Friday morning, when President Obama leaves Israel after a 52-hour visit.
Jerusalem residents will feel the brunt of the traffic jams, and all roads around the King David Hotel will be closed off to traffic during his visit.
Residents of Judea and Samaria also will be blocked from 8:15-9:15 Thursday morning and 3:15-4:30 from traveling on the only north-south highway linking Jerusalem to their communities. President Obama is scheduled to visit Ramallah, where a “hot” welcome is planned by anti-American activists and terrorists.
Friday afternoon, Israel returns to normal, with Shabbat coming just in time.
