The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv has issued a warning to American citizens to be cautious in their travel in southern Israel due to the ongoing security situation, despite the upbeat message of hope for a peaceful settlement between Israel and Gaza terrorists broadcast by the Obama administration.
The U.S. security warning was folded into a "Warden Message" dated February 6, in which the U.S. provided an update on travel restrictions for employees of the Tel Aviv embassy. The warning included a link to the revised Worldwide Caution as well as a reminder of the embassy's various working hours.
"Due to continued tensions and violence in and around the vicinity of the Gaza Strip, all U.S. Embassy personnel are required to provide 24 hours advance notice of any official travel to include the city of Sderot, Israel Defense Force crossings and any other Gaza Strip border areas inside the Green Line," read the warning.
"This announcement restores the Gaza-related restrictions that were in place prior to the December 2008 conflict and removes the restriction on travel within 30 km of Gaza," it continued.
"American citizens should still be aware that militants and terrorist groups continue to launch longer-range missiles that land well beyond the 30 KM (sic) radius…. American citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times," it noted.
Hamas and allied terrorist have launched rocket attacks on the western Negev on an almost-daily basis since the Israeli government announced its unilateral ceasefire on January 18.
On Sunday, terrorists fired a Kassam rocket at the Sha'ar HaNegev region at 6:30 a.m. The missile exploded in the parking lot of a kibbutz, igniting a blaze that damaged a number of vehicles. No one was injured in the attack.
U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell is expected to return to the region within the next two weeks and has said he hopes to establish an office in the Jerusalem area in order to more closely monitor the situation on a day-to-day basis. The envoy recently completed his first shuttle diplomacy mission, crisscrossing back and forth between Jerusalem, Amman, Cairo and Ramallah in an effort to help hammer out a workable ceasefire agreement that would end the constant rocket attacks from Gaza and enable a return to negotiations on a final status deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
For specific assistance from the U.S. Embassy, readers are advised to contact the switchboard during regular office hours at 03-519-7575, and after hours to contact the duty officer at 03-519-7551. For routine inquiries citizens are asked to email AMCTelAviv@state.gov .