Israel and the occupied territories FCO travel warning - 24.2.08
Israel and the Occupied Territories
This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments throughout. The overall level of the advice has not changed.
GENERAL
Most visits to Israel are trouble-free. However, the situation is unstable in the OPTs. We advise against all travel to Gaza. We advise against all but essential travel to the West Bank (except Bethlehem, Ramallah and Jericho where we do not advise against travel, although you should avoid doing so during the hours of darkness).
The main types of incidents for which British nationals required consular assistance in 2007 were for: replacing lost and stolen passports (over 200 cases); arrests or detentions (13 cases), for a variety of offences; and assisting those who encountered security problems in the OPTs or difficulties at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv.
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. Many policies do not cover you if your claim is the result of terrorism. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.
ISRAEL–see the Israel section of this travel advice for more details on all the following:
We advise against all travel to Sheba’a Farms and Ghajar on the border with Lebanon because of military operations. We also advise against all but essential travel to areas within 5kms of the Gaza perimeter, including Sderot, because of rocket fire from Gaza. Following recent events in Gaza, Israel has closed Route 10 (Israel/Egypt border) and prohibited access to sites 3km east of the road.
There is a high threat from terrorism in Israel. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. On 4 February 2008 there was a terrorist attack in Dimona, southern Israel, killing one civilian and injuring at least ten others.
JERUSALEM–see the Jerusalem section of this travel advice for more details on the following:
We strongly advise you to maintain a high level of vigilance when travelling anywhere in Jerusalem, and to follow local advice. You should take sensible precautions to protect yourself and your belongings. There remains a risk of demonstrations which have the potential to turn violent.
GAZA–see the Gaza section of this travel advice for more details on all the following:
We advise against all travel to Gaza. There are sporadic armed clashes, and groups in Gaza continue actively to target UK and other western nationals for kidnap. A British journalist was kidnapped in Gaza in March 2007 and released in July 2007. Despite his release, it would be reckless to travel to Gaza at this time.
If, despite this advice, you decide to travel to, or remain in, Gaza you do so at your own risk. You should also review your security arrangements and seek professional security advice on whether they are adequate. The level of consular assistance we can provide is very limited. If you wish to leave Gaza, you should contact the Consulate-General in Jerusalem for advice before attempting to do so. Entering Gaza can involve lengthy delays and searches. Leaving Gaza is even more difficult: since the beginning of 2008 there have been several incidents of British nationals undergoing a strip-search and delays of several hours (or in one case three days) are common.
WEST BANK (excluding East Jerusalem) – see the West Bank section of this travel advice for more details of the following:
We advise against all but essential travel to the West Bank (except Bethlehem, Ramallah and Jericho where we do not advise against travel although you should avoid doing so during the hours of darkness). Terrorist groups continue to maintain the intent and capability to kidnap foreigners including British nationals.
If you intend to travel to Ramallah, Bethlehem or Jericho, you should avoid crowds, political gatherings or demonstrations which have the potential to turn violent. For immediate, specific information about planned demonstrations or any other events which may affect the local security situation, you should register with the Consulate-General in Jerusalem.
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