Israel

Israel: Ramadan Sept. 1-Oct. 1 Will Crowd Old City of Jerusalem

Date: August 27th, 2008 |

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan runs Sept. 1 through Oct. 1, and visitors to the Old City of Jerusalem should expect much larger than normal crowds and a correspondingly heavy police presence. Significant traffic congestion and delays around the Old City are likely. The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem has made the Old City [read more]

Egypt, Gaza, Israel: Border Crisis Stirs Tensions Between Egypt, Hamas, Palestinian Authority

Date: January 30th, 2008 |

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Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians poured into Egypt after Hamas militants blew open the border partition between Gaza and the Egyptian city of Rafah Jan. 23, relieving tensions in Gaza but creating tensions in Egypt. For the past six months Gaza has been blockaded by Israel because of almost daily rocket attacks on Israeli border [read more]

Israel: Suicide Bombing in Eilat

Date: February 1st, 2007 |

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A suicide bombing of a bakery in the Red Sea resort of Eilat killed three Jan. 29 and brought the violence from the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to this popular tourist town. Three Palestinian groups claimed responsibility for the attack that occurred in a residential area away from the seaside tourist zone. It was the first such [read more]

Israel: Jewish and Muslim Holy Months Coincide

Date: September 26th, 2006 |

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The Jewish holy month of Tishrei and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan are coinciding this year. Police in Jerusalem are worried that clashes could occur in the Old City between tens of thousands of Jewish and Muslim worshippers, so have allocated separate streets for them to use during the peak hours of Friday prayers. [read more]

Lebanon and Israel: Conflict with Hezbollah Tears Apart Lebanon

Date: July 18th, 2006 |

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The conflict between Israel and the Islamic militant group Hezbollah has battered Lebanon, shutting down air traffic into Beirut and forcing the evacuation of thousands of foreigners. The evacuation of as many as 25,000 Americans began July 17. Israeli missiles targeted infrastructure and Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, and Hezbollah missiles hit Haifa and threatened northern [read more]

Israel: Retirees Aid Tourists in Old City of Jerusalem

Date: July 16th, 2008 |

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Visitors who need assistance in the Old City of Jerusalem can now get it from retirees deployed to help tourists. Fifty multilingual volunteers ranging in age from 60 to 85 and versed in the city’s history started work July 13 in an effort to create a more secure environment for tourists. They wear vests adorned [read more]

Israel: Jewish, Muslim Holidays Coincide

Date: September 12th, 2007 |

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The Jewish high holidays and Ramadan coincide this year: Rosh Hashanah occurred Sept. 12-13 and Ramadan began Sept. 13 and runs until Oct. 12. Yom Kippur occurs Sept. 21-22 and Sukkot runs Sept. 27-Oct. 5. Many holiday activities take place in Jerusalem and security will be tight. Large crowds will gather at the Wailing Wall [read more]

Israel and Palestinian Territories: Hostilities between Hamas and Fatah

Date: December 26th, 2006 |

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In an announcement released Dec. 21, the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem urged U.S. citizens to defer all travel to the West Bank and Gaza because of hostilities between Fatah and Hamas factions that could produce armed conflict and potentially violent demonstrations. Violence between Israeli forces and militants in the Gaza Strip and the West [read more]

Israel: Terrorist Threats in Jerusalem

Date: August 29th, 2006 |

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The U.S. State Department reported that Israeli security services continue to receive information of planned terrorist attacks in and around Jerusalem. Because of these threats and past incidents, the U.S. Embassy prohibits its personnel from using all public transportation or entering the Old City of Jerusalem after dark or on Fridays between 11 a.m. and [read more]

Israel, West Bank and Gaza: Protests Likely to Greet Withdrawal

Date: August 9th, 2005 |

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Israel�s withdrawal of troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip is set to begin Aug. 17 and may be met with protests that could become violent. Fifty-five thousand police and soldiers have been mobilized to prevent demonstrators from disrupting the process, and travel to the West Bank and Gaza should be avoided. Incidents could occur [read more]