Citing criminal problems in a several Israeli cities, the United States Department of State has issued an advisory warning its citizens about traveling to Israel.  The advisory said Israel is a dangerous criminal state and visits should be avoided.

Responding to the US State Department output, Israeli Tourism Minister Avraham Hirchson told the media, “We intend to inquire what caused the Americans to publish a travel warning for tourists wanting to visit Israel. Only then will we publish a response.”

Some Israeli tourism insiders are saying they are surprised about the US announcement. Israel Tourist and Travel Agents Association managing director Yossi Fatael told Globes Online he was astonished by the travel warning.  He does not think, however, that the travel warning will have any effect on incoming tourism.

Fatael also said he thinks the travel warning seemed more like an attempt by some groups to cover any eventuality. “Warnings of this kind are issued almost daily, and updated every day.”

There is also the question about timing.  Israeli tourism insiders find the timing of the US travel warning very odd, since the number of tourists visiting Israel, especially from the US, has grown over the past year.  Demand is high enough to convince Delta Air Lines to resume flights and Israel Airlines to start daily flights between the US and Israel.