U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem says State Department "planning for contingencies" to help Americans leave Israel
CBSN
Southern Israel — The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem told U.S. citizens in Israel Thursday morning that the State Department was "planning for contingencies to assist with private U.S. citizens' departure from Israel."
"We will alert the U.S. citizen community if there is additional information to share regarding departure options," the embassy said in an email message to Americans who had enrolled in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
"If the U.S. government provides departure assistance from Israel, options would most likely include travel to a nearby, safe country," and not travel all the way back to the U.S., the embassy said. It asked Americans in Israel interested in leaving the country to fill out an online form.
