Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Unrest expected ahead of US Embassy opening May 14

Event

Public unrest is expected in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip ahead of the planned May 14 inauguration of the new US Embassy in Jerusalem. The opening is expected to coincide with planned celebrations in Jerusalem marking the 70th anniversary of Israel's independence, as well as the Palestinian observance of the Nakba on Tuesday, May 15, annually commemorating the 1948 Palestinian exodus from the territory that became Israel.

A heightened security presence and traffic restrictions are expected in Jerusalem near the inaugural ceremonies for the US Embassy; heightened security measures are also anticipated near the Israel-Gaza border as the six-week protest campaign culminates on May 15 (Nakba Day).

Context

A spike in tensions and cross-border incidents has been observed in Israel and the Palestinian Territories in the wake of US President Donald Trump's December 2017 announcement that the US would officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a departure from the previous US and international position of neutrality on the status of the city claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians. In February, American officials announced that the embassy would open a temporary location in Jerusalem by mid-May 2018, ahead of the previously anticipated schedule.

Large-scale Palestinian demonstrations have recently taken place in the Gaza Strip as part of a six-week tent city protest along the Israel-Gaza border. Dozens of Palestinians have been killed and thousands of others wounded in clashes with IDF personnel since the protests began on March 30. Smaller related protests have taken place in the West Bank.

The ongoing six-week protest period is scheduled to end with a mass march to the Israeli border, tentatively scheduled for May 15 to coincide with the Nakba ("catastrophe"), which is commemorated annually to mark the 1948 Palestinian exodus from the territory that became Israel.

Advice

Individuals present in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are advised to avoid all protests or other public gatherings due to the high risk of violence and to monitor developments to the situation. Due to the underlying terrorist threat, travelers in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities. Some Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Israeli-Lebanese, Israeli-Syrian, and Israeli-Egyptian borders.