Threat Matrix: May 2007

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Warden Message: Gaza Situation Dangerous
Consular Affairs Bulletins
Middle East / N. Africa - West Bank/Gaza
17 May 2007

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17 May 2007
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U.S. Consulate Jerusalem issued the following Warden Message on May 17, 2007:

Interfactional clashes in the Gaza Strip have resulted in a precarious and dangerous security situation. All American citizens are urged for their safety to remain indoors. If there is shooting or explosions in your neighborhood, stand fast and move into the interior areas of your residence away from windows, using mattresses or other means of protection from shrapnel or glass shards. If there is a basement area, move to it. The risk of being caught in crossfire outdoors is great. The U.S. Consulate General urges all American citizens in the Gaza Strip to register with the consulate. American citizens who have not yet registered, may contact American Citizen Services at jerusalemacs@state.gov or by telephone at 02-622-7207.

For the latest security information, Americans should regularly monitor the Department’s web site at http://travel.state.gov , where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Middle East and North Africa Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and other Public Announcements can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays.

Note: The following text is a quote:

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=68478

you are here: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report
Travel Warning: Israel, the West Bank and Gaza
Consular Affairs Bulletins
Middle East / N. Africa - Israel, West Bank/Gaza
17 May 2007

Printer Friendly Email Article
Related Reports
17 May 2007
Warden Message: Gaza Situation Dangerous
8 May 2007
Gaza & West Bank Kidnappings
21 Apr 2007
Militants Target Gaza Businesses, Institutions
10 Apr 2007
Worldwide Caution Public Announcement
10 Apr 2007
Worldwide Caution Public Announcement
The U.S. Department of State issued the following Travel Warning on May 17, 2007:

This Travel Warning is being issued to update information on the general security environment in Israel, Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, and to reiterate threats to American citizens and U.S. interests in those locations. The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to remain mindful of security factors when considering travel to Israel and Jerusalem at this time. In addition, the Department of State urges U.S. citizens to defer travel to the West Bank and to avoid all travel to the Gaza Strip. This warning supersedes the Travel Warning issued August 29, 2006.

Overall, conditions of lawlessness — including running gun battles and kidnappings — prevail in the Gaza Strip; daily incidents of intra-Palestinian violence also occur in the West Bank. Violent demonstrations and armed conflicts between supporters of Palestinian factions have increased in both areas. Security forces and militiamen have engaged in running gun battles in the streets of Gaza, and individual members of factions and the security forces have been targeted for assassination, some successfully. Areas of violent conflict shift rapidly and unpredictably. Foreigners have been subject to threats and kidnappings.

American citizens in the Gaza Strip should depart immediately, a recommendation that the State Department has maintained and renewed since the deadly roadside bombing of a U.S. Embassy convoy in Gaza on October 15, 2003. This recommendation applies to all Americans, including journalists and aid workers. Militants have continued to abduct Western citizens, and terrorist organizations have threatened attacks against U.S. interests.

Militant groups in Gaza persist in launching rocket attacks against nearby Israeli towns despite a nominal ceasefire there. The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) has been authorized to respond to such attacks with counterstrikes against launch areas while launch crews are present. It also continues to carry out security operations in the West Bank, including infrequent, airborne targeted attacks and ground incursions, which have led to the deaths and injuries to bystanders. Rocket fire from Lebanon has ceased since the passage of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in August 2006.

In recent months, some Americans and Europeans involved in demonstrations and other such activities in the West Bank have become involved in confrontations with Israeli settlers and the IDF. The State Department recommends that Americans, for their own safety, avoid demonstrations.

For safety and security reasons, U.S. Government American personnel and dependents are prohibited from traveling to any cities, towns or settlements in the West Bank, except for mission-essential business or other approved purposes. For limited, personal travel, U.S. government personnel and family members are permitted to travel through the West Bank, using only Routes 1 and 90, to reach the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge or the Dead Sea coast near Ein Gedi and Masada. Each such transit requires prior notification to the Consulate General’s security office and must occur during daylight hours. U.S. Government personnel and family members are permitted both official and personal travel on Route 443 between Modi’in and Jerusalem without prior notification, during daylight hours only. Travel to the Gaza Strip by U.S. Government personnel is prohibited. The Department of State strongly recommends that private American citizens not travel to the Gaza Strip. Those in Gaza should depart immediately.

All travelers who enter or travel in the West Bank should exercise particular care when approaching and traveling through Israeli checkpoints and should expect delays and difficulties. Travelers should also be aware they might not be allowed passage through checkpoints.

Israeli authorities are concerned about the continuing threat of suicide bombings. The January 2006 and April 2006, suicide bombings in Tel Aviv, the December 2005 suicide bombing in Netanya and a similar incident in Hadera in October 2005 are reminders of the precarious security environment. Despite the success of Israeli security forces in preventing suicide attacks since April 2006, the threat of such attacks is ongoing. The U.S. Government has received information indicating that American interests could be the focus of terrorist attacks. For that reason, American citizens are cautioned that a greater danger may exist in the vicinity of restaurants, businesses, and other places associated with U.S. interests and/or located near U.S. official buildings, such as the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem.

American citizens are urged to exercise a high degree of caution and common sense when patronizing restaurants, cafes, malls, places of worship, and theaters, especially during peak hours. Large crowds and public gatherings should be avoided to the extent possible, and personnel should be alert to street vendors who sometimes aggressively harass tourists. American citizens should take into consideration that discos and nightclubs, as well as public buses, trains and their respective terminals are “off-limits” to U.S. Government personnel.

Violence between organized criminal elements sometimes occurs in areas frequented by foreigners and has occasionally resulted in death or injuries to bystanders. While American citizens have not been the targets of such violence, they should be aware of their surroundings and follow common sense security precautions.

The State Department urges 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.

As a consequence of the current limitations on official travel to the West Bank, and the prohibition on travel by U.S. Government employees to the Gaza Strip, the ability of consular staff to offer timely assistance to U.S. citizens in these areas is extremely limited.

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 .

RECAP:

Off-Topic.Internet-Haganah.com (JERUSALEM ISSUE BRIEF Institute for Contemporary Affairrs, May 17, 2007): "THE GROWING HAMAS-AL QAEDA CONNECTION" by Lt. Col. (res.) Jonathan Dahoah-Halevi (May 18, 2007)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "HELPING HAND TO HAMAS" by Joe Kaufman (May 15, 2007)

JIHAD WATCH.org - Search Term: "HAMAS"

MEMRITV.org - Video Clips - Topic: "HAMAS"

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/016513.php
May 19, 2007
“UC-Irvine Muslim student throws cinderblock at FBI agent; FBI being questioned”

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Previously...

IN THE USA...

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=25540_Video-_UC_Irvine_MSU_Antisemitism_Revealed&only

Friday, May 18, 2007
“Video: UC Irvine MSU Antisemitism Revealed”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cc-qNml5Zs&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Flittlegreenfootballs%2Ecom%2Fweblog%2F
“UCI Intifada”
(Added May 18, 2007)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=mexico

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http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55781

“Mexican bloodbath raises fears in U.S.
Arizona towns alarmed by rise in attacks, rumor convoy headed north”
Posted: May 18, 2007
7:37 p.m. Eastern

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “A bloodbath just south of the Mexican border has alarmed neighboring Arizona towns that have nervously monitored a rise in violence in the Mexican state of Sonora the past two months.

Mexican police killed 15 armed assailants in a fierce gun battle Wednesday after tracking a group that killed four policemen, leading to fears this morning that an armed outlaw convoy was headed to the U.S. border.

About 40 assailants apparently related to Mexico’s powerful drug gangs, drove in a convoy of up to 15 vehicles into the town of Cananea, 20 miles south of the U.S. border, to seize the policemen Wednesday. Mexican state police confronted the gunmen in the mountains 60 miles south of Cananea and reportedly killed 15 of the gunmen.

(Story continues below)

Today, meanwhile, rumors spread to Naco, Ariz., that its sister city of Naco, Sonora, was threatened with a possible imminent attack from outlaw gunmen who were headed their way.”

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Note: The following post is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1836084/posts

BREAKING NEWS: Gen. Fast restricts soldiers’ travel to Mexico
Sierra Vista Herald/Review ^

Posted on 05/18/2007 5:41:41 PM PDT by SandRat

The commander of the Intelligence Center and Fort Huachuca is restricting soldiers’ assigned to the fort from traveling into Mexico.

Additionally, Maj. Gen. Barbara Fast is advising Army civilian personnel and family members of military and civilians to be careful.

Following is her message:

“In view of the recent increase in drug-related violence just across the Mexican border near the towns of Cananea and Naco, until further notice, I am directing that all military personnel and strongly advising all Department of the Army civilian personnel and their families to restrict their travel by avoiding the border towns of Mexico. If you or your families are traveling near the border on the US side, please use caution.”

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http://washingtontimes.com/upi/20070517-111702-5663

“Mexico: Anti-kidnapping chief abducted”
Published: May 17, 2007 at 11:27 PM

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “MEXICO CITY, May 17 (UPI) — A leading anti-kidnapping official has been abducted in northern Mexico by men pretending to be federal agents.
State officials said Enrique Ruiz Arevalo, the head of Coahuila state’s anti-kidnapping and organized crime unit, was taken earlier this week, El Universal newspaper reported Thursday.”

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http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070518/D8P6FFP80.html

“Mexico: Drug Gangs Using Terror Tactics”
May 17, 8:47 PM (ET)
By MARK STEVENSON

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico’s top police official said Thursday that drug gangs are relying on a flow of arms from the United States and using terrorist strategies learned from al-Qaida to pressure the government to halt anti-drug efforts.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Garcia Luna also described as a “terrorist strategy” the recent drug-gang videos showing grisly executions and warnings to officials or rival gangs, some of which have been leaked to the media and posted on the Internet.

Referring to one tape of an execution, he said, “this video has the format, and copies the scheme of a video used by al-Qaida,” the Islamic terror group that has posted videos showing beheadings.”

PERSECUTION.ORG
http://www.persecution.org

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Sat May 19 2007 04:43:50 GMT-0700.

Mexico

April 19, 2007

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1161.html

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Sat May 19 2007 04:44:51 GMT-0700.

Worldwide Caution

April 10, 2007

READY.GOV
http://www.ready.gov

You’re welcome.

I’ll follow you on the explosives theft. I’m interested as well.

“Federal scientists are researching whether the same industrial chemicals blamed for sickening and killing thousands of pets are responsible for decimating the honeybee population.”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1836058/posts