With the Easter and Passover travel season approaching, the U.S. State Department has issued a new warning regarding travel to Israel.
"The security environment remains complex in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, and U.S. citizens need to be aware of the continuing risks of travel to these areas, particularly to areas described in this Travel Warning where there are heightened tensions and security risks," the warning said.
The State Department warned U.S. citizens against travel to the Gaza Strip. Additionally, U.S. government personnel are prohibited from personal travel to the West Bank, except for Jericho and Bethlehem.
"Personal safety conditions in major metropolitan areas, including Tel Aviv and Haifa and surrounding regions, are comparable to other major global cities," the warning said. "Nonetheless, the July-August 2014 Gaza conflict...and subsequent political and religious tension associated with access to the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem led to increased levels of violence, particularly in Jerusalem and West Bank environs, not seen in those areas in a decade."
Read the travel warning here.