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Warden Message: Jerusalem Old City Shooting
Consular Affairs Bulletins
Middle East / N. Africa - Jerusalem
10 Aug 2007

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U.S. Consulate Jerusalem issued the following Warden Message on August 10, 2007:

At approximately 11:15 a.m. today a shooting occurred in the Christian Quarter of the Old City. Police report that an armed guard was attacked by an unknown male who assaulted him and took his firearm. The assailant then opened fire on the surrounding area before being shot and killed by another armed guard.

At least eight people were injured. It is not yet clear whether they were injured by the gunfire from the assailant or from the armed guards. Jaffa Gate has been closed to the public and there is a heavy police response.

The Consulate General of the United States in Jerusalem has instructed all Consulate employees to stay out of the Old City until the end of the day. Private American citizens are also advised to remain outside of the Old City until the end of the day.

The State Department and the Consulate General urge American citizens to remain vigilant while traveling throughout Jerusalem, especially within the commercial and downtown areas of West Jerusalem and the city center. Israeli security services report that they continue to receive information of planned terrorist attacks in and around Jerusalem. The last terrorist bombing in Jerusalem was on September 22, 2004. Spontaneous or planned protests within the Old City are possible, especially after Friday prayers. Some of these protests have led to violent clashes. The Old City of Jerusalem is off-limits to U.S. Government personnel and their family members after dark during the entire week and between the hours of 11 am and 2 pm on Fridays.

Americans in Israel, Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are strongly encouraged to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv or the Consular Section of U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov . U.S. citizens who require emergency services may telephone the Consulate General in Jerusalem at (972) (2) 622-7250 or the Embassy in Tel Aviv at (972) (3) 519-7355.

Current information on travel and security in Israel, Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada , or, from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. For additional and more in-depth information about specific aspects of travel to these areas, U.S. citizens should consult: the Consular Information Sheet for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza; the Middle East and North Africa Public Announcement; and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement. These are available on the Department’s Internet website at http://travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on security conditions can also be accessed at http://usembassy-israel.org.il or http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov .