NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Israel (fwd)

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From owner-travel-advisories@stolaf.edu Fri Feb 20 04:04:45 1998 Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 11:07:49 -0500 From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Israel Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> To: travel-advisories@stolaf.edu Message-ID: <199802171112_MC2-33A4-1596@compuserve.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk

STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Israel and the Occupied Territories ============================================================ Israel and the Occupied Territories - Public Announcement February 14, 1998 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman The American Embassy in Tel Aviv and the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem are issuing the following Warden Message: "This message supplements the Public Announcement issued by the U.S. Department of State on February 10, 1998 for the Middle East and South Asia. The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and Consulate General in Jerusalem continue to closely monitor the situation with Iraq. The U.S. Government believes there is a low probability of attack on Israel, the West Bank or Gaza, and that the possibility of Iraq using chemical and biological weapons (CBW) is remote, but cannot be excluded. American citizens are advised to avoid travel to the West Bank and Gaza and to exercise caution in Jerusalem, particularly in the area of the old city of Jerusalem. The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem has suspended personal travel of its employees to the West Bank and has placed restrictions on official travel to the West Bank. These are precautionary measures only. However, given the current tensions in the region, the U.S. Government believes it is important for all citizens to maintain readiness in the unlikely event of an emergency. At this time, the Government of Israel is distributing protection kits to Israeli citizens and legal residents only. However, we understand that the government of Israel is putting in place arrangements to determine the most effective ways to distribute gas masks to foreign nationals and is in the process of acquiring adequate numbers of gas masks to provide for non-Israeli citizens in Israel, Jerusalem, and the areas of the West Bank under its control. The Palestinian authority has informed the U.S. Government that it does not have protection kits to supply its population or foreign residents living within its areas of control. For those American citizens who need to obtain a new passport or to update their registrations, passport hours at the Embassy (71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv) are Monday through Friday mornings from 8:30 to 11:00 am and Wednesday afternoons from 1:30 to 3:30 pm; Consulate General in Jerusalem (27 Nablus Road, East Jerusalem) passport hours are Monday through Friday mornings from 8:30 to 12:00, except for the last Friday of the month. The Embassy and Consulate General urge all U.S. citizens to monitor local and international media for further developments. Should the U.S. government need to issue advice to U.S. citizens, the Embassy and Consulate will notify the local media and activate our citizens warden network immediately. U.S. citizens contemplating traveling to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza should take the above information into consideration and should, in addition, consult the latest Consular Information Sheet on Israel and the Occupied Territories dated December 23, 1997." This Public Announcement expires on May 14, 1998. Israel and the Occupied Territories - Consular Information Sheet December 23, 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 responsibility for keeping order in those areas and the Palestinian Authority exercises a range of civil functions in other areas of the West Bank. 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 0013, APO AE 09830. The telephone number is (972) (3) 519-7575. After hours number: 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 should be contacted for information and help in the following areas: Israel, the Gaza Strip, and ports of entry at Ben Gurion 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 located at 27 Nablus Road. The U.S. mailing address is Unit 7228 Box 0039, APO AE 09830. The telephone number is (972) (2) 625-3288 (via Israel) the after hours number is 625-3201. The fax number is 972-2-272-2233. 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 telephone (972) (04) 853-1470, who reports to the Embassy in Tel Aviv. The Consular Agent can provide routine and emergency services in the north. 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 Israeli 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, except those of Palestinian ancestry (see below) 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. 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) should 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 embassy or consulate. 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., NW, Washington, DC. 20008, telephone (202) 364-5500, or the Israeli Consulate General in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, 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. Terrorism/Security: 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 most recent attacks have been in highly frequented shopping and pedestrian areas, and public buses. U.S. citizens should use caution in crowded pedestrian and shopping areas. In addition, 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. U.S. citizens should, at all times, 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. 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. Strict measures have frequently been imposed following terrorist actions. In such circumstances, 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 can 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. Accessible sites for daylight visits include 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 U.S. Consulate General, located at 27 Nablus Road in East Jerusalem, is safe and accessible to all visitors. The U.S. government maintains 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. Many Israeli and Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank possess their own guns. 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 drivers should use caution. While the roads in Israel are well built, the roads in Gaza and most of the West Bank are of poor quality. Arrests and Detention: U.S. citizens arrested by the Israeli National Police (INP) and charged with crimes are entitled to legal representation and consular notification and visitation. Typically the INP notifies the Embassy or Consulate General within two days of arrest, and consular access is normally granted within four days. This procedure may be expedited if the arrested American shows a U.S. passport to the police as proof of U.S. citizenship, or asks for access to the Embassy or Consulate General. U.S. citizens arrested in the West Bank for criminal offenses may be prevented from communicating with lawyers, family members, or consular officers. The U.S. Consulate General is often not notified of the arrest, or notified in a timely manner. Consular access to the arrestees can be initially denied and is frequently delayed. In contrast to persons arrested for criminal offenses, U.S. citizens arrested or detained in Israel and 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. They may be detained for up to six months at a time without charges. Youths over the age of fourteen have been detained and tried as adults. Neither the Embassy nor the Consulate are 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 detained American shows a U.S. passport as proof of citizenship and asks the local authorities to contact the Embassy or Consulate General. 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 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 Internet site at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov) has additional health information. Travelers from regions where contagious diseases are prevalent may need to show shot records before entry into Israel. 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 abroad 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, DC. 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. In one case, the rabbinical courts detained in Israel a Jewish American tourist who had 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 Gaza or the West Bank are subject to the same regulations as other resident Palestinians. This normally requires 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. 97-169 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated January 22, 1997, to provide new information about travel documentation for Palestinian Americans, and to update the sections on entry/exit requirements, terrorism and security, and arrest and detentions. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 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. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories