U.S. Embassy Israel

Warden Message

U.S. Government Employee Travel Restrictions Due to IDF’s Gaza Operation and Longer Range-Rocket Attacks against Israel by Militants and Terrorist Organizations in Gaza

Date of Warden Message: 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.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RESOURCES

American citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor:

U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv’s Web page, http://usembassy-israel.org.il/consular/acs/TravelInformation.aspx, for the latest Warden Message and
The U.S. Department of State's, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Web site, www.travel.state.gov.

Both links provide access to:

The current Worldwide Caution;
Travel Warnings, including the Travel Warning for Israel, West Bank and Gaza, and Travel Alerts;
Country-Specific Information; and
Other resources, such as information about U.S. passports and visas.

Additionally, travelers should consult Warden Messages found on the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem’s Web site at http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov.

For American citizens living and traveling abroad, we encourage you to review valuable security information contained in "A Safe Trip Abroad" at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html.

Other Sources of Information:

Travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or outside the United States and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

These telephone numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. Federal holidays).

Emergency Numbers/Inquiries:

In the event of an emergency, contact the Police at 100 or Fire at 102, as appropriate.

Should you need specific assistance from American Citizens Services:

During office hours (7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.), call our switchboard at 03-519-7575.

Outside office hours, call 03-519-7551; your call will be transferred to the Embassy duty officer.

Routine Inquiries and Subscribing to Informational E-mails:

For routine American Citizen Services inquiries, e-mail AMCTelAviv@state.gov.

To subscribe to Warden Messages and other informational e-mails from U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv, go to http://usembassy-israel.org.il/consular/acs/index.aspx and enter your e-mail address in the yellow box on the right-hand side of the screen.

		Warden Message U.S. Government Employee Travel Restrictions Due to IDF’s Gaza Operation and Longer Range-Rocket Attacks against Israel by Militants and Terrorist Organizations in Gaza Date of Warden Message: 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. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RESOURCES American citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor: U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv’s Web page, http://usembassy-israel.org.il/consular/acs/TravelInformation.aspx, for the latest Warden Message and The U.S. Department of State's, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Web site, www.travel.state.gov. Both links provide access to: The current Worldwide Caution; Travel Warnings, including the Travel Warning for Israel, West Bank and Gaza, and Travel Alerts; Country-Specific Information; and Other resources, such as information about U.S. passports and visas. Additionally, travelers should consult Warden Messages found on the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem’s Web site at http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov. For American citizens living and traveling abroad, we encourage you to review valuable security information contained in "A Safe Trip Abroad" at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html. Other Sources of Information: Travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or outside the United States and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These telephone numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. Federal holidays). Emergency Numbers/Inquiries: In the event of an emergency, contact the Police at 100 or Fire at 102, as appropriate. Should you need specific assistance from American Citizens Services: During office hours (7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.), call our switchboard at 03-519-7575. Outside office hours, call 03-519-7551; your call will be transferred to the Embassy duty officer. Routine Inquiries and Subscribing to Informational E-mails: For routine American Citizen Services inquiries, e-mail AMCTelAviv@state.gov. To subscribe to Warden Messages and other informational e-mails from U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv, go to http://usembassy-israel.org.il/consular/acs/index.aspx and enter your e-mail address in the yellow box on the right-hand side of the screen.