2006 Warden Messages

Warden Message  

AUGUST 4, 2006

American Embassy Tel Aviv

The American Embassy in Tel Aviv has initiated a travel restriction policy for its personnel, governing travel within Israel during the current period of military hostilities. The Embassy is transmitting the text of this policy to private American citizens in Israel via the warden network, to assist you in making your own decisions regarding travel within Israel. The policy statement is as follows:

A new Travel Warning went into effect on July 19 regarding Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. This warning highlights the threats to American citizens from Hezbollah rocket attacks and potentially violent confrontations in the West Bank and Gaza. It further warns of the dangerous situations caused by these rapidly developing and unpredictable events.

As a result of the violence, the Department of State’s new Travel Warning urges U.S. citizens to "defer travel to affected parts of Israel (rocket attacks have focused on the area north of an east-west line from the coastal city of Haifa to Tiberius on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, including those cities, and on Sderot and Ashkelon in the south)."

The Ambassador has determined that the following policy will apply to all US direct-hire American personnel and family members under Chief of Mission authority, as well as to LES (locally employed staff) staff who conduct official travel on behalf of the United States Government. Until further notice, personal travel by American employees and their family members to the area north of a straight west to east line drawn between the intersection of Highway 2 and Highway 70 to the town of Yardena on the Jordanian border is prohibited. Note that this area could change at any time, depending on circumstances. Should such changes become necessary, additional Staff Notices will be distributed.
However, if any Mission personnel must travel to affected areas in connection with their official responsibilities, the following conditions must be met:

- all travel will be for official purposes only,
- travelers will be required to obtain concurrence from the DCM (deputy chief of mission)and coordinate with RSO (regional security office) prior to travel to affected areas,
- The RSO will determine the level of protective support required on a case by case basis in accordance with the approved Standard Operating Procedures for Travel to the Affected Areas,
All Mission personnel who have been granted permission for a specific trip must check with the RSO on the morning the travel is to take place to ensure that security conditions along the route or at the proposed place or area of travel remain appropriate for the travel.