Chinese travellers to Israel put on alert as Donald Trump’s Jerusalem move intensifies tensions
‘Safety conditions’ in Israel are ‘increasingly complicated and intense’, after US president’s recognition of holy city as capital, China’s embassy warns tourists
Chinese tourists travelling to Israel should “stay vigilant” and use caution as US President Donald Trump’s formal recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and order to move the American embassy to the holy city intensifies tensions in the already conflicted region, China’s embassy in Israel has warned.
“Considering the recent development of affairs, safety conditions in [the] Israel, Palestine areas are increasingly complicated and intense,” the Chinese embassy said on Friday.
“The embassy alerts all Chinese nationals and organisations to stay vigilant, keep watch [as conditions develop] and be cautious when travelling to conflicted areas in Israel and Palestine, including the old city of Jerusalem and its neighbouring areas.”
The embassy also warned Chinese travellers to be mindful of safety when travelling to the occupied West Bank of the Jordan River, Gaza, the Israel-Lebanon border, the Israel-Syria border and the Golan Heights.
The alert came two days after Trump announced the US would recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move its embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city for Jews, Christians and Muslims. Israelis and Palestinians have both claimed Jerusalem as their capital.
Violence broke out after the announcement, with Palestinian protesters battling Israeli soldiers in Jerusalem, Ramallah and other places on the West Bank and Gaza Strip.