Hebrew daily “Yediot Ahronot” reports that the US State Department softened its travel advisory for Israel on Friday. The State Department cancelled its warning to Americans to avoid travel to Israel. With terrorist incidents in decline, the department urges Americans only to "carefully weigh" the necessity of travel to Israel.
Since the outbreak of intifada in September 2000, the State Department warned US citizens not to visit Israel. The travel advisory was eased two years ago, but was subsequently tightened again. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been in intense talks with the US over the past year to cancel the travel advisory. Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom has raised the subject in meeting with top US officials.
On Friday, the State Department issued a new advisory, calling on US citizens to carefully weigh the necessity of travel to Israel in view of current risks. It also warns US citizens to avoid unnecessary trips to the West Bank and to completely avoid the Gaza Strip.
The State Department added that despite the calm, there was still considerable potential for violence. The planned evacuation of settlements from Gaza could lead to violence within Israel by groups of settlers. Settler organizations are planning resistance operations that are liable to lead to violent confrontations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed satisfaction at the State Department announcement, saying that this was a first step in the right direction. "We will continue talks until the travel advisory is completely cancelled," the ministry said.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on April 10, 2005