US Issues Travel Warning for Israel Ahead of President Trump’s Statement on Jerusalem

The US State Department issued a warning for Americans in Israel on Tuesday, telling travelers to avoid crowds and banning government officials and their families from personal trips in the areas until further notice.

The advisory comes on the heels of the news that the Trump administration has made the controversial decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognize Jerusalem the capital of Israel, which will likely anger Palestinians and Palestinian supporters, who consider the city divided.

“With widespread calls for demonstrations beginning Dec. 6 in Jerusalem and the West Bank, US government employees and their family members are not permitted until further notice to conduct personal travel in Jerusalem’s Old City and in the West Bank, to include Bethlehem and Jericho,” the State Department said in its statement, which was distributed by the Jerusalem-based US consulate. “United States citizens should avoid areas where crowds have gathered and where there is increased police and/or military presence.”

President Trump is expected to make a televised statement about the Jerusalem decision at 1:00pm Eastern time, fulfilling his campaign promise to change the official American position on the Israeli-Palestinian issue and ignoring the pleas of several world leaders and Pope Francis to reconsider. They argue that the move will deepen tensions and lead to violence in what’s already a powder keg of diplomatic and military entanglements.

from The Points Guy