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May. 19, 2021
U.S. citizens living in Israel said they felt “trapped,” “abandoned,” and “held hostage” following the news that the Tel Aviv Branch Office of the U.S. Embassy had suspended American Citizens Services, canceling all appointments due to the ongoing rocket attacks in the conflict between Israel and Hamas and leaving thousands without valid U.S. passports.
The decision compounds an already dire situation for American citizens living in Israel and the West Bank in which there is an estimated backlog of more than 15,000 cases of citizens waiting to renew passports for minor children and register the births of babies born over the past year, which must be done in person according to State Department regulations.
Photo Credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
Jerusalem municipality worker hangs an American and Israeli flags near the US consulate in Jerusalem, May 7, 2018.
We just received an email from the US embassy in Israel that goes: Message for U.S. Citizens (April 20, 2021), location: Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, Event: American Citizens Services is increasing capacity.”
We decided to publish the full text for the benefit of our American readers living in Israel:
Supporting U.S. citizens abroad remains our top priority. U.S. Embassy Jerusalem and Embassy Branch Office (EBO) Tel Aviv are working hard to provide consular services to U.S. citizens in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 Test Requirement for Travel to the United States
Effective January 26, 2021, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expanding the requirement for a negative COVID-19 test to all air passengers entering the United States. Air passengers are required to get a viral test (a test for current infection) within the three calendar days before their flight to the United States departs and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (paper or electronic copy) to the airline or provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19. This applies to all air passengers, two years of age or older, traveling into the United States, including U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. For further information, please refer to the CDC’s website of frequently asked questions regarding the order.
January 11, 2021
Dear Americans in Singapore,
Our country is blessed with pluralistic democracy. The American community in Singapore is richer thanks to the diversity of your political views. This said, the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol was shocking. The images I woke up to on Thursday shook me as they did millions of Americans and so many across the globe. They were a vivid reminder of the fragility of any democracy, including one as deep-rooted as ours. They also reminded us of the constant work needed to achieve a more perfect Union. I have faith in America and in the resilience of U.S. institutions. I know that, together, we will emerge stronger.
Domestic Travel Restrictions
Due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, the Thai government and provincial governments are enacting a variety of emergency disease control measures. The Thai government has extended its emergency decree until February 28, 2021. A growing number of provinces are categorized by the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) as “red zones” (28 as of January 6, including Bangkok and Nonthaburi) and subject to disease control prevention measures, including the closure of some businesses. Many provinces have begun to tighten entry requirements for people traveling between provinces in Thailand and there are reports of health checkpoints being established at some provincial border crossings.