In what sounds like a warning against an impending nuclear holocaust, or at the very least World War III, the warning continues: “U.S. citizens seeking to depart Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza are responsible for making their own travel arrangements. U.S. government-facilitated evacuations occur only when no viable commercial alternatives exist. The lack of a valid U.S. passport may hinder U.S. citizens’ ability to depart the country and may slow the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General’s ability to provide assistance.”
If anyone from the United States had plans to visit friends and family in southern Israel – think again. The State Department warns the area is truly dangerous “because of the security situation.” As a resident of southern Israel, this writer personally wonders which ‘security situation’ the State Department is referring to, since I can’t imagine that Be’er Sheva is any more dangerous than the streets of New York City or downtown Washington DC on a Saturday night at 1 am.
“Because of the security situation, travel restrictions remain in effect for southern Israel, including Beersheva and areas south of Beersheva. All travel south of Ashdod remains prohibited for embassy employees and their families.”
By the way, in case you’re not yet discouraged from getting on that plane and visiting Israel anyway — the State Department warns that you’d better buy your own gas mask.
“The Government of Israel has had a long-standing policy of issuing gas masks to its citizens and, starting in 2010, it began issuing replacement masks. It stopped this distribution process in early 2014 in response to regional events. Visitors and foreign residents in Israel are not issued masks and must individually procure them, if desired. The U.S. Embassy and Consulate General do not provide gas masks for persons who are not U.S. government employees or their dependents. For further emergency preparedness guidance, please visit the website of the Government of Israel’s Home Front Command, which provides information on how to choose a secure space in a home or apartment, as well as a list of the types of protective kits (gas masks) issued by the Government of Israel to its citizens.”
The warning goes on to advise against approaching the border with Egypt. This actually makes sense; the global terror organization ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or “Da’esh” as it is known in Arabic) has links to a local Islamist terror group, Ansar al-Maqdis, that is operating in the Sinai Peninsula and whose terrorists have lately been decapitating people they believe to be collaborating with Israel. But why is the warning citing incidents as far back as 2013, and rocket attacks from July? Neither are currently relevant. It’s the ISIS-linked terrorist group in the Sinai Peninsula that is the real threat along the border — and, of course, Hamas.
“Travelers should also be aware of the heightened state of alert maintained by Israeli authorities along Israel’s border with Egypt. There have been cross-border incidents from Egypt, including rocket attacks and ground incursions, such as an attack that took place in August 2013 and one on January 20, 2014. Rockets were fired from Sinai in the direction of Eilat on July 15, 2014.”
Northern Israel, on the other hand, is quite dangerous but with certain restrictions, still permissible. Why on earth is that? There apparently is no active restriction on traveling towards — dare I say it — Syria — even though that is precisely the source of the biggest threat from ISIS in this area, except Iraq, which does not border Israel. Read on:
“Rocket attacks into Israel from Lebanon have occurred without warning along the Israeli-Lebanese border. Tensions have increased along portions of the Disengagement Zone with Syria in the Golan Heights as a result of the internal conflict occurring in Syria. Sporadic gunfire has occurred along the border region. There have been several incidents of mortar shells and light arms fire impacting on the Israeli-controlled side of the zone as a result of spillover from the fighting in Syria. Travelers should be aware that cross-border gunfire can occur without warning. Furthermore, there are active land mines in areas of the Golan Heights, so visitors should walk only on established roads or trails. The Syrian conflict is sporadic and unpredictable. U.S. government personnel who wish to travel east of Route 90 require advance approval. In addition, personal travel for U.S. government officials is not permitted east of the Jordan River or east of Route 92 in the Golan area, although Route 92 itself is permitted with advance approval.”