Israel Warns Citizens: Avoid ‘Openly Displaying Israeli and Jewish Symbols’ Abroad

The State of Israel issued an unprecedented warning Friday to Israeli citizens to be cautious when traveling abroad in the midst of a global wave of antisemitism — and to avoid “openly displaying Israeli and Jewish symbols.”

The warning came as part of a travel advisory to Israeli citizens. The advisory, issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, is as follows (original emphasis):

Joint Statement from the National Security Council in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Friday, 3 November 2023)

Given the increase in antisemitic and violent incidents towards Israelis and Jews around the world, the National Security Council (NSC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) are calling on the public to exercise extra caution while abroad.

1. In the past few weeks, since Operation “Swords of Iron” began, the NSC and MFA have identified a significant rise in antisemitism and anti-Israel incitement, alongside life-threatening violent attacks on Israelis and Jews around the world.

2. Such incidents are occurring in many countries around the world, including those for which no terrorism-related travel warnings have been issued.

3. Jewish communities, religious and community establishments (synagogues, Chabad centers, kosher restaurants and Israeli businesses), Israeli delegations, and airports with flights to and from Israel are key targets for protests and attacks by antisemitic groups.

4. Given the magnitude of this, the NSC recommends reevaluating the necessity of foreign travel.

The NSC also calls on Israelis traveling abroad to any destination to abide by its recommended conduct for Israelis abroad (the recommendations are detailed on the NSC website).

This includes:

a. Postponing travel to countries for which travel warnings have been issued, and especially Arab and Middle Eastern countries, the North Caucasus and countries bordering Iran.

b. Checking whether there have been anti-Israel protests and violence at your destination, including countries for which no travel warnings have been issued.

c. Avoiding openly displaying Israeli and Jewish symbols and features.

d. Having on hand the phone numbers for emergency services (security and medical) and the Israeli embassy, if there is one.

e. Staying away from protests and demonstrations.

f. Remaining alert while abroad and being aware of things happening around you.

g. Refraining from discussing your service in the Israeli security forces, including your IDF service, with strangers.

Such warnings, in the past, have typically emerged from within Jewish communities in specific countries, usually in Europe and the Middle East.

There has been a massive surge in antisemitism worldwide since Palestinian Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people. The attacks on Jews, and protests demonstrating support for Hamas, began before Israel mounted a response to the Hamas terror attack.

Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). He is the author of the new biography, Rhoda: ‘Comrade Kadalie, You Are Out of Order’. He is also the author of the recent e-book, Neither Free nor Fair: The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.