UK issues warning on traveling to Tel Aviv, Israel

After the shooting attack on January 1^st, the British Foreign Office updated its travel warning for Tel Aviv, advising citizens to be cautious when using public transportation

The British Foreign Office's warning adds Tel Aviv to the list of destinations that are considered to be of high risk for UK citizens traveling abroad. Due to the general security situation in Israel, UK officials advised citizens to remain vigilant and to avoid the West Bank area and public transportation there.

"An attack in central Tel Aviv on 1 January by an assailant using an automatic weapon has caused a number of casualties. If in the area, you should remain vigilant and follow the advice of the security forces. Take extra care and be vigilant when using public transport in Tel Aviv, in particular at transport hubs, and when using buses in the greater Tel Aviv area. You may wish to consider using other forms of transport”, states the UK officials' warning.

Likewise, the US Embassy in Tel Aviv raised concerns about a possible attack and published a similar warning on its website before New Year's Eve: "the security situation can change day to day, depending on the political situation, recent events, and geographic area. A rise in political tensions and violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank has resulted in injuries to and deaths of US citizens. The Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority both make considerable efforts to police major tourist attractions and ensure security in areas where foreigners frequently travel. Although these efforts to reduce the threat are not 100 per cent effective, hundreds of thousands of US citizens safely visit Israel and the West Bank each year for study, tourism, and business."

It is also expected that the events will further affect Israel tourism sector, as the security situation in the area remains tense after the influx of foreign tourism has already significantly dropped due to latest terror incidents in the area.