From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Israel Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Fri, 2 May 1997 19:08:35 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1321 Path: world!bzs Message-ID: <970502190835_76702.1202_CHN36-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: bzs@world.std.com (daemons) Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 369 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Israel ============================================================ Israel, Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank - Public Announcement May 2, 1997 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman U.S. citizens who have ever held or now hold resident status in the West Bank or Gaza should be aware that they may be subject to the same travel regulations governing entry to and exit from Israel that affect all other resident Palestinians. In general, such individuals are required to hold a Palestinian passport to enter or depart Gaza or the West Bank via Israel. U.S. citizen Palestinian residents arriving at Ben Gurion airport without a Palestinian passport will be granted an entry visa to enable their transit to the West Bank or Gaza to obtain such documentation from the Palestinian Authority. A Palestinian passport and permit to depart are required to leave via Ben Gurion airport. No permit is required for departure via the Rafah or Allenby border posts. Palestinians who last departed Israel before the May 1994 Cairo Accords (regarding Gaza and Jericho) or the September 1995 Interim Agreement (regarding other areas of the West Bank) are advised to re-enter Israel through the same port of entry from which they last left (and where their travel documents were then deposited). Specific questions may be addressed to the nearest Israeli diplomatic or consular post. For further information on travel to Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank, please consult the Consular Information Sheet of the same name dated January 22, 1997. This Public Announcement will expire July 25, 1997. Israel, Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank - Public Announcement April 15, 1997 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman On March 21, 1997, the American Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Consulate General in Jerusalem issued the following warden message: "The American Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Consulate General in Jerusalem, taking note of heightened tension at the present, remind all U.S. citizens that the potential for violence in the area remains high. Although they have not been specifically targeted for attack, U.S. citizens have been killed in past terrorist actions in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. The U.S. Government has no information that such actions have been planned for the immediate future, but citizens are reminded that in the past, premeditated terrorist attacks have frequently taken place on Sunday morning and at rush hours. Violent attacks have also involved passengers on buses and at bus stops. It is also strongly advised that citizens should, at any time, avoid large crowds and political demonstrations, and not remain in an area where a demonstration or altercation appears to be developing. Such gatherings can occur spontaneously, and have the potential to become violent without warning. U.S. citizens should refer to the latest Consular Information Sheet for Israel and the Occupied Territories, or to the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv or the Consulate General in Jerusalem, for additional guidance on travel to the region." For more information on travel to Israel and the West Bank, travelers are encouraged to consult the Consular Information Sheet for Israel and the Occupied Territories dated January 22, 1997. The expiration date of this Public Announcement has been extended from April 15, 1997 to July 15, 1997. Israel and the Occupied Territories - Consular Information Sheet January 22, 1997 (INCLUDING AREAS SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE PALESTINIAN INTERIM SELF-GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY) Country Description: The state of Israel is a parliamentary democracy with a modern economy. Tourist facilities are widely available. 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 most of the major cities of the West Bank. Palestinian Authority police have responsibilities for keeping order in those areas and the Palestinian Authority exercises a range of civil functions in other areas of the West Bank. The West Bank city of Hebron is still under the control of the Israeli Army. Areas of Israeli and Palestinian Authority responsibilities and jurisdiction in the West Bank and Gaza are 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. Embassy/Consulate Location and Sources of Assistance: The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, is located at 71 Hayarkon Street. The U.S. mailing address is PSC 98, Box 100, APO AE 09830. The telephone number is (972) (3) 519-7575. The after hours number is: 519-7551. The fax number is 972-3-516-0315. The e-mail address is acs.amcit-telaviv@dos.us-state.gov. The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv should be contacted for information and help in the following areas: Israel, the Gaza Strip, and ports of entry at Ben Gurion Airport 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 located at 27 Nablus Road. The U.S. mailing address is PSC 98, Box 100, APO AE 09830. The telephone number is (972) (2) 625-3288. The after hours number is 625-3201/2. The fax number is (972) (2) 627-2233. The U.S. Consulate should be contacted for information and help in the following areas: West and East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and border crossings at the Allenby Bridge, connecting Jordan with the West Bank. There is a U.S. Consular Agent in Haifa, at 12 Jerusalem Street, Haifa 33132, telephone (972) (4) 867-0616. Entry Requirements: Israel: Passports, an onward or return ticket, and proof of sufficient funds are required for entry. A three-month visa may be issued for no charge upon arrival, and may be renewed. Anyone who has been refused entry or experienced difficulties with his/her visa status during a previous visit, or who has overstayed a visa, can obtain information from the Israeli Embassy or nearest consulate regarding the advisability of attempting to return to Israel. Permission must be obtained from Israel for anyone attempting to claim the status of a returning resident. Palestinian Authority: Except during periods of closures, U.S. citizens may enter and exit Gaza and the West Bank on a U.S. passport with an Israeli visa. It is not necessary to obtain a visitor's permit from the Palestinian Authority. Private vehicles frequently encounter long delays entering or leaving Gaza and may also expect to be stopped at checkpoints entering or leaving the West Bank. Palestinian Americans with residency permits for the West Bank and Gaza are subject to the same travel restrictions as other Palestinians residing in those areas. Israel-Jordan Crossings: International crossing points are now in operation between Israel and Jordan at Arava (Wadi Al-'Arabah) crossing in the south and the Jordan River crossing (Sheikh Hussein Bridge) in the north. Prior visas are not necessary for American citizens using these two crossing points, but travelers will have to pay a fee. Visas should be obtained in advance for those wanting to cross the Allenby Bridge which links Jordan and the occupied West Bank. (Note: Palestinian Americans with residency in the West Bank must cross into Jordan using the Allenby Bridge.) Procedures for all crossings into Jordan are subject to frequent changes. For further entry information, travelers may contact the Israeli Embassy at 3514 International Dr., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 364-5500, or the nearest Israeli consulate general in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, or Houston. Customs Requirements: Video cameras, among other items, must be declared upon entry to Israel and travelers carrying these items must go through the red zone at customs. Definitive information on customs requirements for the Palestinian Authority is not available. Security Measures: Israel has strict security measures that may affect visitors. Prolonged questioning and detailed searches may take place at the time of entry and/or departure at all points of entry to Israel, including entry from any of the areas under Palestinian jurisdiction. American citizens with Arab surnames may expect close scrutiny at Ben Gurion Airport and the Allenby Bridge from Jordan. For security reasons, delays or obstacles in bringing in or departing with cameras or electronics equipment are not unusual. During searches and questioning, access may be denied to U.S. consular officers, lawyers, or family members. Definitive information on security measures in the Palestinian Authority is not available. Areas of Instability: West Bank and Gaza: During periods of unrest, the West Bank and Gaza are sometimes closed off by the Israeli Government. Travel restrictions may be imposed with little or no warning. Following the series of suicide bombings in Israel in February and March 1996, strict security measures were put into effect. Movement of Palestinians (including Palestinian Americans) and foreign passport holders has been severely impaired. Demonstrations by Palestinians and Israelis in the West Bank have led to confrontations and clashes with the police, with some turning deadly. Stone throwing and other forms of protest can occur without warning and escalate quickly. In view of the continued potential for violence and unrest in the West Bank and Gaza, the State Department advises all American citizens to avoid travel to these areas, except for daylight visits to Bethlehem, Jericho, Highway 1 from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, Route 90 through the Jordan Valley, and tourist sites along these routes. This includes the Inn of the Samaritan, Nebi Musa, St. George's Monastery, Mount of Temptation Monastery, Qumran, and Qualiah Water Park. The consular section of the Consulate General, located at 27 Nablus Road in East Jerusalem, is safe and accessible to all visitors. The U.S. government instituted and continues to maintain tight security procedures regarding travel of U.S. government employees, officials, and dependents to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Frequently, U.S. government employees are instructed not to travel at all to these areas. Travel guidelines for U.S. government employees may change at any time. The Palestinian police force has been established in Gaza and the major cities of the West Bank which are under Palestinian jurisdiction. Joint Israeli/Palestinian police patrols and checkpoints may be encountered. Guns are often owned by Israeli civilians and by Palestinians in Gaza. General Precautions: Travel on strike days or after dark is not recommended. Tourists using public transportation or traveling by car in areas less frequented by tourists are at risk. Vehicles have been damaged, with rental cars in particular being targeted. Jerusalem: In Jerusalem, travelers can reduce their risk of being involved in violent incidents by traveling in groups, avoiding the old city at night, except for the Jewish Quarter, and exercising caution at religious sites on holy days, Fridays, and Saturdays. Most roads into Ultra-orthodox Jewish neighborhoods are blocked off on Saturdays. Assaults on secular visitors, either for being in cars or for being "immodestly dressed," have been known to occur in these neighborhoods. In the North: In the Golan Heights, there are live land mines in many areas, and some minefields have not been clearly marked or fenced. Visitors who walk only on established roads or trails will reduce the risk of injury from mines. Rocket attacks from Lebanese territory can occur without warning close to the northern border of Israel. Driving and Road Conditions: There is a high rate of fatalities relating to auto accidents, and caution should be exercised. While the roads in Israel are well built, the roads in Gaza and most of the West Bank are of poor quality. Terrorism: Although U.S. citizens have not been specifically targeted for attack, several terrorist incidents in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as within Israel, have killed or injured U.S. citizens. Several violent attacks have involved passengers on buses and at bus stops. The U.S. Embassy and the Consulate General have warned their employees and American citizens to avoid travel on public buses, as well as congregating at bus stops and other crowded areas. This restriction does not apply to tour buses. Arrests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip: U.S. citizens arrested or detained in the West Bank on suspicion of security offenses often are not permitted to communicate with consular officials, lawyers, or family members in a timely manner during the interrogation period of their case. Youths over the age of fourteen have been detained and tried as adults. The U.S. Embassy is not normally notified of the arrests of Americans in the West Bank by Israeli authorities, and access to detainees is frequently delayed. Notification may be more rapid if the arrested American shows a U.S. passport to Israeli officials as proof of U.S. citizenship. Israeli authorities should notify the U.S. Embassy when an American is arrested by Palestinian police in the West Bank or Gaza, and requests by the U.S. consul to visit arrested Americans should be communicated to the Palestinian Authority through a joint Israeli-Palestinian committee. Significant delays in notification and consular access may occur under these procedures. Medical Facilities: Modern medical care and medicines are available in Israel. However, some hospitals in Israel and most hospitals in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank fall below U.S. standards. Travelers can find information written in English about emergency medical facilities and after-hours pharmacies in the "Jerusalem Post" newspaper. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage has proven useful. The international traveler's hotline at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at telephone (404) 332-4559 has additional health information. The internet site is http://cdc.gov. Travelers from regions where contagious diseases are prevalent may need to show shot records before entry. Information on Crime: The crime rate is moderate in Israel, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Useful information on safeguarding valuables, protecting personal security, and other matters is provided in the Department of State pamphlets, "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to the Middle East and North Africa," available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the territory in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs are severe in Israel, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. The Palestinian Authority also has strict penalties for drug use by persons under its jurisdiction. Court Jurisdiction: Under Israel's judicial system, the Rabbinical courts exercise jurisdiction over all Jewish citizens and residents of Israel in cases of marriage and divorce and related issues such as support and child custody. Rabbinical courts can also impose sanctions, including jail terms and restrictions against leaving the country, on individuals married in a Jewish religious ceremony who, in case of divorce, refuse to give their spouses a religious divorce ("GET"). In some cases, Jewish Americans, who entered Israel as tourists, have become defendants in divorce cases filed against them in a Rabbinical court in Israel by their American spouses who are seeking a religious divorce that the defendants have refused to give. These Americans have been detained in Israel for prolonged periods while the Israeli courts consider whether such individuals have sufficient ties to Israel to establish Rabbinical court jurisdiction. The Rabbinical courts have also detained in the country a Jewish American tourist who has been sued for support by his spouse in the United States. Jewish American visitors should be aware that they may be subject to involuntary and prolonged stays in Israel if a case is filed against them in a Rabbinical Court. This may occur even when the marriage took place in the U.S., and/or the spouse seeking relief is not present in Israel. Dual Nationality: Israeli citizens naturalized in the United States retain their Israeli citizenship, and their children are considered Israeli citizens as well. In addition, children born in the United States to Israeli parents acquire both U.S. and Israeli nationality at birth. Israeli citizens, including dual nationals, are subject to Israeli laws requiring service in Israel's armed forces. U.S.-Israeli dual nationals of military age who do not wish to serve in the Israeli armed forces may contact the Israeli Embassy to obtain proof of exemption or deferment from Israeli military service before going to Israel. Otherwise, they may not be able to leave the country without doing military service. Israeli citizens, including dual nationals, must enter and depart Israel on their Israeli passports. (Note: U.S.-Israeli dual citizens must enter and depart the U.S. on their U.S. Passports.) Palestinian-American citizens with residency rights in Israel, Gaza, or the West Bank are subject to the same regulations as other resident Palestinians. This may require them to depart these areas with Palestinian travel documents or (for residents of Jerusalem) laissez-passers with re-entry permits approved by the Israeli Ministry of Interior. Registration: The State Department advises American citizens who plan to be in the region for a substantial period of time to register at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv or the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem. When registering, U.S. citizens can obtain updated information on travel and security in the area. No. 97-007 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated August 7, 1996, to provide new information about the role of Rabbinical courts in Israel and their potential implications for Jewish American tourists. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. 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