The Foreign Office is no longer advising against all but essential travel to the majority of Israel after lifting travel advice which has been in place for over a year.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its advice to the destination and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) on December 13.
Travel restrictions were imposed 15 months ago on October 9, 2023, following the Hamas attacks of October 7.
The change lifts the advice for the destination’s key tourism sites including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Eilat, the Dead Sea, Galilee and Haifa, with travellers now advised only to check advice before visiting these areas.
The Israel government tourist office said the change provided a “long-anticipated and significant boost” for tourism to the destination and opened the way for a “more normalised travel market”, including standard travel insurance, for trips from the UK.
Michael Ben Baruch, director of the Israeli Tourism Office in the UK, said: “We welcome the FCDO’s decision to remove the travel advisory regarding Israel. This decision will positively impact the ability to purchase travel insurance for Israel and, hopefully, encourage foreign airlines to resume flights from the UK to Israel.”
He added that Israel was now “open for visitors”.
The FCDO is still advising against all or essential travel only in areas within Gaza, the West Bank and within 500 metres of the Syrian border.
In its updated advice, the FCDO said the frequency of rocket attacks had significantly decreased in Israel since the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, but stated there was an “increased risk of political tension” which could cause demonstrations and clashes on anniversaries or at significant events.
It also said that a ceasefire had been agreed on November 27 regarding the conflict with Lebanese Hizballah with a 60-day implementation period but said there was a “risk that hostilities could reignite” with “little warning”.
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