The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem on Monday eased travel restrictions for government employees stationed in Israel following the June 23 truce that ended 12 days of fighting between the Jewish state and Iran.
A security alert posted to the embassy website cited the “stable security environment in Israel” as the reason for lifting a ban on U.S. personnel traveling outside the Jerusalem, greater Tel Aviv and Beersheva areas.
Restrictions remain in place on personal travel to areas close to Israel’s borders with Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and the Gaza Strip, as well as most parts of Judea and Samaria, according to Monday’s security alert.
The only areas of Judea and Samaria where government employees are allowed to go are routes 1, 90 and 443, “which can be used at any time,” as well as Bethlehem and Jericho, but only from dawn to midnight.
“This is provided for your information as you make your own security plans,” it stated. “The Embassy will continue to review the security situation and will provide additional information as needed.”
On June 12, the embassy banned government employees from traveling outside Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem and Beersheva, citing “increased regional tensions.”
The security alert came just hours before Israel launched the opening strike of “Operation Rising Lion” against the Iranian nuclear program.
Iran launched over 500 ballistic missiles at Israel over the course of the war, killing 28, wounding hundreds and damaging countless buildings.
