Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, August 16, 2000 – The U.S. Government believes that there is, at this time, an increased possibility for terrorist attacks in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. While there is no reason to believe that there is a specific threat directed against Americans, the U.S. Department of State urges all Americans in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza to increase their vigilance with respect to their personal security. American citizens should be alert to their surroundings and report any suspicious activity to the police. At this time, Americans should avoid use of public buses and exercise caution when in the vicinity of bus stops and crowded areas. The State of Israel is a parliamentary democracy with a modern economy. Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, and East Jerusalem as a result of the 1967 War. Pursuant to negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, an elected Palestinian authority now exercises jurisdiction in most of Gaza and the major cities of the West Bank. Palestinian Authority police have responsibility for keeping order in those areas and the Palestinian Authority exercises a range of civil functions in other areas of the West Bank. The division of responsibilities and jurisdiction in the West Bank and Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian Authority is complex. Definitive information on entry, customs requirements, arrests, and other matters in the West Bank and Gaza may not be available and is subject to change without prior notice. The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, is online (you may need to download Hebrew Text Display Support). The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy should be contacted for information and help in the following areas: Israel, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights and ports of entry at Ben Gurion Airport, Gaza International Airport, Haifa Port, and the northern (Jordan River) and southern (Arava) border crossings connecting Israel and Jordan. The Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem is online. The U.S. Consulate General should be contacted for information and help in the following areas: West and East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Allenby Bridge border crossing connecting Jordan with the West Bank. There is a U.S. Consular Agent in Haifa, at telephone (972)(4) 853-1446, who reports to the Embassy in Tel Aviv. The Consular Agent can provide routine and emergency services in the north.

For questions and comments about Worldtravelcenter.com, its World Travel Health newsletter, or its travel companion jetStream, contact:
newsletter@worldtravelcenter.com

Feature Articles
Where's the Bathroom
Please?
World Attitudes Toward
Organ Donations
Forget Me Not Tetanus
jetStream Travel Stories
Travel Insurance Primer

GlobalNotes
Asia
Africa
Europe
Oceania
Middle East
Central Asia

Fun and Games
Travel Health & Safety Quiz