OREANDA-NEWS. December 30, 2008. In connection with Israel’s large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip the situation in the Palestinian territories as a whole has become exacerbated. This also concerns the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, where the main Christian shrines are. The entry and exit checkpoints in Bethlehem are being periodically closed, mass protest demonstrations are taking place in East Jerusalem, and Jerusalem’s Old Town is surrounded by Israeli police.

In this connection the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends to Russian citizens to refrain from visiting these areas until the end of Palestinian-Israeli military confrontation and the normalization of the situation.