Today the Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C. issued the following warning:
The Maryland State Police advised the Israeli Embassy that a demonstration planned by members of the African American community is scheduled for today, Sunday, May 3, at 15:00 in the vicinity of downtown Baltimore in Maryland, near district government offices and the Baltimore Police.
This demonstration has the potential of drawing large crowds. A similar protest held in Baltimore on preceding days lasted several hours and turned violent, resulting in injuries, arrests, and property damage. We advise Israeli citizens to avoid the area and to monitor local media for updates.
Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. You should avoid areas of demonstrations, and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations. Review your personal security plans; remain aware of your surroundings, including local events; and monitor local news stations for updates. Maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security and follow instructions of local authorities.
No, of course they didn’t. Actually it was the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem that wrote (in an email):
The Israel National Police advised the U.S. Embassy that a demonstration planned by members of the Ethiopian Israeli community is scheduled for today, Sunday, May 3, at 15:00 in the vicinity of haKirya, Kaplan Street, and Azrieli Towers in central Tel Aviv, near district government offices and the Israeli Defense Forces headquarters.
This demonstration has the potential of drawing large crowds. A similar protest held in Jerusalem on Thursday lasted several hours and turned violent, resulting in injuries, arrests, and property damage. We advise U.S. citizens to avoid the area and to monitor local media for updates.
[Third paragraph above is unaltered.]
There is a demonstration in Tel Aviv. It’s still ongoing (I can see it on the TV as I type). It is tense and five police have been injured but it’s not resulting in widespread damage. It certainly doesn’t look like something you could wander into unawares. Though it did completely gridlock traffic in Tel Aviv as the protesters blocked the most important road in the city. More background here at JPost.
