Dire warning for Israel as Tel Aviv comes under rocket attack

By Linsey McNeill
12/05/2021
Home » Dire warning for Israel as Tel Aviv comes under rocket attack

Israel has declared a state of emergency in the central city of Lod following a night of violence, during which a suburb of Tel Aviv came under a rocket attack from Palestine.

One woman in Tel Aviv was killed and two people died in a separate attack in Lod.

Israel is one of the 12 countries on the UK Government’s ‘green’ safe travel list from 17 May and it is planning to welcome fully vaccinated British tourists travelling on organised tours from 23 May.

But tensions between the Arab community and Israeli military have been increasing in recent days, with 20 people killed in clashes in and around Jerusalem, prompting UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to call for calm on Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a state of emergency in Lod yesterday after riots broke out, and the UN envoy for Middle East Peace Tor Wennesland warned Israel was heading ‘towards a full-scale war’.

The unrest is spreading to other Israeli cities with a high Arab population, such as Haifa in the north, and Ramla in central Israel.

There were also reports of clashes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. 

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office warns against all but essential travel to the Occupied Palestinian Territories (beyond East Jerusalem) based on the current Covid risk.

In its travel advisory, last updated on 10 May, the FCDO says: “In Israel and the West Bank, including Tel Aviv, East Jerusalem and the Old City (particularly the Damascus Gate and Lion’s Gate areas of the Old City) and Hebron, there have been numerous violent clashes between protestors and security forces and stabbing, shooting, arson, vehicle ramming and stone throwing attacks on people and vehicles.

“These types of incidents also happen along Route 60 within the West Bank (the main road connecting Jerusalem with Nablus and Hebron) and along Route 443 between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

“There’s a risk that tourists or bystanders could be caught up in any incident. You should avoid any demonstrations and follow instructions of local authorities.”

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