Quartet Statement, Issued June 24, 2008
.... In particular, the Quartet reiterated its deep concern at continuing settlement activity and called on Israel to freeze all settlement activity including natural growth, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001.
How odd that the Quartet would single out Israeli "settlement activity" as being of "particular" and "deep" concern, while this U.S. State Department Travel Warning seems to assert that any real danger on the ground emanates not from Jewish settlers, but from palestinian Arab Muslim terrorists.
Note: I have inserted identifications [in brackets] where they so obviously apply, but for some reason have been omitted by the State Department. "Dangers" from the Israeli side are underlined.
This information is current as of today,
Wed Jun 25 08:13:48 2008.The [Jew-free] Gaza Strip
Areas of conflict shift rapidly and unpredictably in the [Jew-free] Gaza Strip and American citizens should avoid all Gaza travel. Those already in the [Jew-free] Gaza Strip should depart immediately. This recommendation, which the State Department has maintained since the deadly [palestinian Arab Muslim terrorist] roadside bombing of a U.S. Embassy convoy in Gaza in October 2003, applies to all Americans, including journalists and aid workers. No official travel is permitted inside the Gaza Strip at this time.
Hamas, a State Department-designated foreign [i.e. palestinian Arab Muslim] terrorist organization, violently assumed control over [Jew-free] Gaza in June 2007, making worse the already dangerous security situation there. The [Jew-free] Gaza Strip is wracked by ongoing violence between Israeli security forces and several Palestinian [Arab Muslim] terror groups.
In recent months, [palestinian Arab Muslim terrorist] extremist factions in the [Jew-free] Gaza Strip have specifically targeted Palestinian Christian groups. [palestinian Arab Muslim terrorist] Militants there have abducted Western citizens, and [palestinian Arab Muslim] terrorist organizations have threatened attacks against U.S. interests. The American International School in northern [Jew-free] Gaza was the target of [a palestinian Arab Muslim terrorist] attack on April 21, 2007, and again on January 10 and 12, 2008.
[palestinian Arab Muslim terrorists from] Hamas and Islamic Jihad (another designated foreign terrorist organization) have intensified the launching of daily rocket attacks against Israeli towns as far north as Ashkelon. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are responding to these attacks with military force.
The security environment is very fluid in the vicinity of the [Jew-free] Gaza Strip. [palestinian Arab Muslim terrorist] Rocket and mortar launches into Israel are unpredictable and occur frequently with little or no notice, resulting in a potentially unsafe situation. Gunfire from [palestinian Arab Muslim terrorists in] Gaza into Israel is a danger.
On January 15, 2008, a Palestinian [Arab Muslim terrorist] sniper killed an Ecuadorian kibbutz volunteer working near the Gaza border. As a result, travel in the surrounding area is strongly discouraged. Due to heightened tensions and violence in and near the [palestinian Arab Muslim terrorist-controlled and Jew-free] Gaza Strip, all U.S. Embassy and Consulate General employees are required to provide 24 hours advance notice of any official travel to the city of Sderot, crossing points into [Jew-free] Gaza, and any other areas bordering Gaza. [The palestinian Arab Muslim terrorist organization] Hamas has recently threatened to carry out suicide bombings in the neighboring Israeli towns.
The [predominantly palestinian Arab Muslim]
West BankThe security environment in the [predominantly Arab Muslim] West Bank remains volatile. Violent demonstrations, kidnappings, and shootings [by palestinian Arab Muslim terrorists] are unpredictable and can occur without warning. The Department of State urges Americans to defer travel to the West Bank at this time.
The IDF continues to carry out security operations in the [predominantly palestinian Arab Muslim] West Bank, including nightly raids to arrest terrorist suspects that sometimes result in gun battles [with palestinian Arab Muslim terrorists]. Israeli security operations can occur at any time, including frequent raids to arrest terrorist suspects that result in [palestinian Arab Muslim terrorist] shootings, demonstrations and often violent conflict. This heightens the risk of Americans being caught in the middle of potentially dangerous situations. Some Americans and Europeans involved in demonstrations and other such activities in the [predominantly palestinian Arab Muslim] 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.
All those who pass through the West Bank should exercise particular care when approaching and transiting Israeli military checkpoints. Travelers should be aware that they might encounter delays and difficulties, and might even be denied passage through a checkpoint.
American citizens should be aware that as a consequence of the current limitations on official travel to the [predominantly palestinian Arab Muslim] West Bank, and the prohibition on travel by U.S. Government employees to the [Jew-free] Gaza Strip, the ability of consular staff to offer timely assistance to U.S. citizens in these locations is extremely limited (particularly in the [Jew-free] Gaza Strip).
Travel Restrictions for U.S. Government Personnel
American U.S. Government personnel and their dependents are prohibited from traveling to any cities, towns, or settlements in the [predominantly palestinian Arab Muslim] West Bank, except when they are on mission-essential business or are traveling for other Mission-approved purposes....
General Safety and Security
Israeli authorities remain concerned about the continuing threat of [palestinian Arab Muslim] terrorist attacks. A March 2008 [palestinian Arab Muslim terrorist] shooting in Jerusalem and a February 2008 [palestinian Arab Muslim terrorist] bombing in Dimona are reminders of the precarious security environment. The threat of such [palestinian Arab Muslim terrorist] attacks is on-going. American citizens are cautioned that a greater danger [from palestinian Arab Muslim terrorists] 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 [where palestinian Arab Muslim terrorists are likely to strike] -- especially during peak hours. Large crowds and public gatherings should be avoided to the extent practicable [because palestinian Arab Muslim terrorists target these for attack]. 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.
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 [where there are a lot of Jewish targets for palestinian Arab Muslim terrorist attack]. Israeli security services report that they continue to receive information of planned [palestinian Arab Muslim] terrorist attacks in and around Jerusalem.
Spontaneous or planned protests within the Old City are possible, especially after [palestinian Arab Muslim] 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....
But what is of "particular" and "deep concern" to the International Quartet for Middle East Peace is that Jews be denied the opportunity to build new homes or participate in what the Quartet calls "natural growth."
See Yid with Lid: No Sex for Jews! - for more on that.
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