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SECURITY MESSAGE FOR U.S. CITIZENS: JERUSALEM DAY OF RAGE EXPECTED ON DECEMBER 6
Riots/Civil Unrest
Near East > Jerusalem
12/5/2017
With widespread calls for demonstrations beginning December 6 in Jerusalem and the West Bank, U.S. 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. Official travel by U.S. government employees in Jerusalem’s Old City and in the West Bank is permitted only to conduct essential travel and with additional security measures. United States citizens should avoid areas where crowds have gathered and where there is increased police and/or military presence. We recommend that U.S. citizens take into consideration these restrictions and the additional guidance contained in the Department of State’s travel warning for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza when making decisions regarding their travel.
See the full warning message here:
As reported by AlertsUSA on 12/3:
US embassies & consulates worldwide are on heightened alert in advance of POTUS announcing US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and movement of embassy from Tel Aviv.
Israel considers Jerusalem its capital, but the Palestinians claim east Jerusalem for the capital of a future state. The international community does not recognize Israel’s claim on all of the city, home to sites holy to the Jewish, Muslim and Christian religions.
At present, the U.S. maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv, as well as a Consulate General in Jerusalem.
Congress has already demanded movement of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem with the passage of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995.
DELAYS IN IMPLEMENTATION
At the time the Act was passed by Congress, President Bill Clinton threatened a veto if a provision wasn’t added allowing for a six-month presidential waiver, or delay period. That provision (Section 7) was added and the bill was signed into law, with President Clinton then immediately exercising the waiver.
Since that time, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have all opted to suspended implementation of the Act every six months.
President Trump suspended implementation in June, 2017, but has repeatedly expressed resolve to follow through on a campaign pledge to move the Embassy.
President Trump's June waiver expired Friday, December 1. It is widely expected that he will NOT be exercising the waiver option again. The State Department has informed all overseas missions to expect the Act to be implemented.
THREAT ASSESSMENT
Formal implementation of the Act and recognition of Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel is going to set off a firestorm throughout the Middle East and beyond.
The move would be at odds with the United Nations’ continued refusal to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Hamas, the Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist organization, has promised another Intifada (uprising) if President Trump moves forward with the plan.
The establishment of a Palestinian State and the total and complete destruction of Israel has been a battle cry of Islamic terror organizations for decades. Al Qaeda has leveraged the topic to get followers stirred up, as has the Islamic State. Expect more of this.
The move could also trigger significant anti-America sentiment across Europe, with many countries holding vehement anti-Semitic prejudices.
Expect the threat tempo to increase both domestic and abroad. Caution and vigilance are urged, particularly for synagogues, Jewish community centers and schools.
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