Israel Issues Travel Advisory To Citizens

The Israeli Government Counter-Terrorism Bureau has issued a series of warnings to citizens of Israel.

There is a concern of widespread attacks on Israelis overseas or kidnapping attempts.

The instructions issued by the Counter-Terrorism Bureau to avoid injury or kidnapping are directed both to businessmen from Israel as well as to tourists and backpackers and relate to the entire world. The instructions follow:

• Display a high level of alertness and sensitivity toward any unusual phenomenon.
• Reject any tempting or unexpected offer from a suspicious person you don’t know.
• Reject unexpected gifts or offers for free entertainment from unfamiliar or suspicious people.
• Do not consent to unexpected meetings, mainly in remote places
• Avoid bringing in suspicious or unexpected visitors to your hotel room or wherever you are staying.
• When staying overseas for a lengthy time, do not stick to routine: change hotels from time to time, change routine travel routes and don’t frequent the same places of entertainment and restaurants.
• Avoid visiting or staying in Arab and Muslim countries and other countries to which the advisory applies.

These warnings refer mainly to countries considered dangerous (list follows), but also countries where there is ostensibly no danger to Israelis.

The countries most dangerous for Israelis to visit (very high concrete threat) are listed as Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Yemen, Iran and Afghanistan. Other places where the threat is very high: the Kashmir region in northern India, the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines, the Chechnya region in Russia and the Sinai peninsula. Israelis staying there are asked to leave immediately.

Countries that are defined as “dangerous” for Israelis include Algeria, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan. Other places where the threat is high: northern Nigeria, southern Thailand and Kenya’s beach (a strip of 75 miles that includes the towns of Shimoni, Mombassa, Malindi, Lamu and Mangai).

There is a “basic concrete threat” to Israelis in the following countries: Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Qatar, Morocco, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan and Chad.

Countries that Israelis “should avoid” include Libya, Oman, Mauritania, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Tajikistan. It is recommended that any non-vital travel to these countries be postponed.

In the Philippines (except for the island of Mindanao), Turkey, Thailand and Uzbekistan, there is no clear and concrete threat, but Israelis there are asked to take precautions.

The Counter-Terrorism Bureau also warns of kidnappings for Israelis who help the Colombian government in security matters. These Israelis are asked to conceal their identities, to prefer aerial transport, to move only on main roads during daylight and to avoid visiting areas where there is a high risk.

David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com