Israel to U.S.: Cancel crime-related travel warning

[Scurrilous]

According to State Department’s travel warning, violent clashes between criminals in Israel have resulted in death, injuries to innocent bystanders; ‘warning is distortion, does not reflect level of crime in country, which is lower than that of most western nations’ Israeli diplomatic sources say

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3224791,00.html

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"Israel is requesting that the U.S. cancel or at least soften its stance on organized crime in Israel as expressed for the first time in the State Department’s travel warning, according to Israel’s leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.

The State Department is warning American citizens traveling to Israel of dangers related to organized crime wars.

The Israeli embassy in Washington was instructed to relay the request to top level State Department officials.

Diplomatic sources said Monday that Israel has made it clear that the issued warning is a “distortion” and does not reflect the level of crime in the country, which is lower than that of most western nations.

The sources added that the drafting of a special clause on organized crime by the State Department in its travel warnings is unprecedented, apart from those concerning a few third world countries such as Nigeria and Colombia."

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Israeli gang wars prompt US State Dept travel warning

http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/DocView.asp?did=1000066747&fid=1725

The travel warning also cites assault by Jewish settlers and IDF troops on protestors.

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"The US State Department has issued a travel warning for Israel, due to criminal activities by organized crime within the country. This is the first time that the State Department has mentioned organized crime in Israel as a factor liable to jeopardize tourists or other foreign residents traveling in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.

As usual, the bulk of the travel warning concerns potential risks from Palestinian terrorism, but it also warns about the risk of assault by Jewish settlers and IDF troops against participants in demonstrations and protests. This warning is fairly new."

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"The section referring to organized crime in Israel states, “"Violent confrontation between organized criminal elements has led to the death and injury of innocent bystanders in incidents throughout Israel, including an October 26, 2005 incident in which a bomb destroyed a Tel Aviv apartment building, killing three people and wounding 5. Such incidents in the past have involved the use of bombs, grenades, anti-tank missiles, and small arms fire, and have taken place in Tel Aviv, Caesarea, Ramle, Acre, Hadera, Arad, and the Galilee."

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"The State Department warns against participating in demonstrations, saying, “In recent months, citizens of Western nations, including Americans, involved in pro-Palestinian volunteer efforts were assaulted and injured in the Occupied Territories by Israeli settlers and harassed by the IDF. Those taking part in demonstrations, non-violent resistance, and “direct action”, are advised to cease such activity for their own safety.”

[Coastie for Truth]

1. 3 Jews Are Attacked in a Paris Suburb - New York Times - 3/7/2006

Jews Are Attacked in a Paris Suburb - New Yort Times - 3/7/2006

Three attacks against Jews over the weekend have added to anxiety that anti-Semitism is growing among a new generation of French citizens in the country's immigrant-heavy, working-class neighborhoods.

The police said two young men, 17 and 18, were attacked late Friday by black and Arab youths in the northern Paris suburb of Sarcelles, home to a large number of Jewish families. The attackers broke the nose of one victim, a rabbi's son, and stole the cellphone of the other.

On Saturday, a 28-year-old Jewish man was beaten in the same suburb by youths who made anti-Semitic remarks. He suffered a dislocated shoulder. Four people are being questioned in the Saturday attack, the police said.

"Anti-Semitism is rising in our country," Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a legislator representing Sarcelles, said after a meeting in which Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy spoke with the victims of the attacks.


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