Tourists had been traveling between Israel and the Palestine territory to visit Jesus birthplace Bethlehem without major problems. This has now changed and the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem advises U.S. citizens to defer travel to Bethlehem and surrounding communities until further notice due to ongoing clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinian residents, and security incidents in and around Bethlehem.
The Consulate General recommends U.S. citizens review the Department of Stateโs Travel Warning for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza issued on December 16, 2015 for additional guidance on the security environment