{"id":43130,"date":"2019-11-20T20:08:56","date_gmt":"2019-11-20T20:08:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/11\/20\/us-troops-prohibited-from-traveling-to-jerusalems-old-city-and-elsewhere-on-west-bank\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:05:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:05:39","slug":"us-troops-prohibited-from-traveling-to-jerusalems-old-city-and-elsewhere-on-west-bank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/11\/20\/us-troops-prohibited-from-traveling-to-jerusalems-old-city-and-elsewhere-on-west-bank\/","title":{"rendered":"US troops prohibited from traveling to Jerusalem\u2019s Old City and elsewhere on West Bank"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The U.S. military is prohibiting the travel of American troops to the West Bank \u2014 which includes Bethlehem and Jerusalem\u2019s Old City \u2014 over security concerns following a Monday White House reversal of a decades old American policy that has viewed Israeli settlements in the territory as a violation of international law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. European Command was simply following State Department guidance on travel restrictions in Israel, said Lt. Cmdr. Joe Hontz, a spokesman for the command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EUCOM \u201cpolicy applies to military personnel, DoD civilian employees, contractors and command-sponsored dependents and family members,\u201d Hontz told Military Times in an emailed statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Embassy in Israel<\/a> released a travel warning Monday for Americans traveling to Jerusalem, the West Bank or Gaza, cautioning travelers to \u201cmaintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness in light of the current environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIndividuals and groups opposed to the Secretary of State\u2019s recent announcement may target U.S. government facilities, U.S. private interests, and U.S. citizens,\u201d the U.S. embassy warning reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\t