2005 Warden Messages

Warden Message  

August 10, 2005

The Department of State continues to urge U.S. citizens to defer unnecessary travel to the West Bank and avoid all travel to Gaza. During the last few weeks, one American and several Westerners were abducted in the Gaza Strip, leading some nongovernmental and development organizations to curtail operations there. This trend in abductions underscores the heightened threat for American citizens residing in Gaza or visiting or working in academic institutions, international organizations, or businesses in Gaza. American citizens in Gaza should depart immediately, a recommendation the State Department has maintained since the deadly roadside bombing of a U.S. Embassy convoy in Gaza on October 15, 2003.

We take this opportunity to remind all Americans presently in or considering travel to the Gaza Strip of the information contained in the current Travel Warning, which can be accessed at http://travel.state.gov. As the U.S. Government develops information on any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its consular information program documents, available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov.

For emergencies after business hours and on weekends, U.S. citizens can contact the Embassy Duty Officer via the Embassy switchboard at 03-519-7551. The Embassy is located at 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv, Israel 63903. U.S. citizens in Jerusalem and the West Bank may contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate General at 27 Nablus Road in Jerusalem. The telephone number is (972)(2) 622-7200. The number only for emergency purposes after normal business hours is (972)(2)622-7230. General information about Israel and Gaza is available at the Embassy's website http://israel.usembassy.gov. Information about Jerusalem and the West Bank is available from the Consulate General Jerusalem website at http://
jerusalem.usconsulate.gov/jerusalem/citizen_services.html.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, including the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, and Middle East and North Africa Public Announcement, can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Finally, all residents of and visitors to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza are urged to register their presence via the Internet at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/home.asp to facilitate communications.