Warden Message

Date of Warden Message: February 6, 2009

Today’s Warden Message provides an update on the travel restrictions for U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv employees and a link to the revised Worldwide Caution, reminds of U.S. Embassy closures, and announces new Federal Benefits Unit working hours.  

Due to continued tensions and violence in and around the vicinity of the Gaza Strip, all U.S. Embassy personnel are required to provide 24 hours advance notice of any official travel to include the city of Sderot, Israeli Defense Force crossings and any other Gaza Strip border areas inside the Green Line.  This announcement restores the Gaza-related restrictions that were in place prior to the December 2008 conflict and removes the restriction on travel within 30 km of Gaza. American citizens should still be aware that militants and terrorist groups continue to launch longer-range missiles that land well beyond the 30 KM radius The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv continues to advise official personnel to avoid protests and demonstrations, and to be vigilant in public places. American citizens can access the English version of the Home Front Command Web site www.oref.org.il for the latest guidance on appropriate security measures.

American citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times. For updated information on the Department of State’s worldwide caution notice, please refer to: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1161.html. 

REMINDER: the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv will be closed on Tuesday, February 10 in observance of Israeli Knesset Elections.

NEW WORKING HOURS: The Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv is open for walk-in service for applications for Social Security Numbers from Tuesdays to Fridays, 9am-12pm; they are closed the last Friday of every month.  No appointments are necessary.  Furthermore, the Federal Benefits Unit will accept calls on Tuesdays and Thursday, from 9am to 11am. If a representative is unable to answer your call during this time, please leave a message and a representative will call you back as soon as possible.  For further information, please refer to: http://israel.usembassy.gov/consular/acs/OfficeHoursFBU.aspx.

Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Embassy’s website http://telaviv.usembassy.gov/, and the U.S. Department of State's, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website www.travel.state.gov , where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, including the Travel Warning for Israel, West Bank and Gaza, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information can be found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html, which includes valuable security information for those both living and traveling abroad. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and Canada on a 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).

If you need specific assistance from the U.S. Embassy, contact our switchboard during office hours (03-519-7575). Outside of office hours, contact 03-519-7551 and your call will be transferred to the Embassy’s duty officer. For routine inquiries, please email the American Citizen Services Unit at AMCTelAviv@state.gov . To subscribe to receive additional Warden and other messages from the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, go to the following link and enter your email address in the yellow box on the right-hand side of the screen: http://usembassy-israel.org.il/consular/acs/index.aspx. Thank you.