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ISRAEL RESOURCES FOR CONSTITUENTS
The Office of Representative Adriano Espaillat Stands Ready to Assist NY-13 Constituents and Their Families During Ongoing Conflict in Israel
WASHINGTON, DC – The following resources are available through the Office of Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) to provide assistance to constituents or their loved ones who are currently in Israel. The situation in Israel remains dynamic; mortar and rocket fire may take place without warning. Individuals should follow the instructions of security and emergency response officials.
U.S. citizens seeking to be in touch with the U.S. Embassy in Israel, please click this link for our crisis intake form, or call 1-833-890-9595 (toll free) and 1-606-641-0131.
Follow these steps to dial a phone number in Israel when calling from the U.S.:
* Dial 011, the U.S. exit code.
* Dial 972.
* Enter the area code (1 digit), followed by the phone number (7 digits).
For example, if you are calling Tel Aviv, Israel from New York City, you would dial 011-972-Y-XXXXXX (Y equaling the subscriber number).
U.S. citizens currently in Israel, please call the local number (03-519-7426).
Resources and pertinent information:
1. NY-13 constituents and U.S. citizens may reach out to the U.S. Embassy through the crisis intake form available at the link: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/situation-in-israel-2023.html.
U.S. Citizens, along with spouses of U.S. Citizens, who are currently stuck in Israel should expect to hear from an individual State Department employee via e-mail “within hours” and “on the same day” after filling out the crisis intake form. The State Department has a large, dedicated team that is working round the clock to assist U.S. Citizens and answer all questions. There is also contact information located within the crisis intake form that U.S. Citizens should reach out to if they have not heard back from the State Department “within one day” after submitting the crisis intake form.
2. While Ben Gurion International Airport remains open, we are aware that several major airlines have announced that they have suspended flights. Please check with the airlines on the availability of flights and flight status. U.S. citizens in Gaza who wish to leave and can do so safely are advised to check the status of the Rafah Crossing into Egypt. NY-13 constituents seeking information on how to contact the Embassy or about flights out of Israel, may visit the Embassy’s Web Site. https://il.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/security-and-travel-information/
Specialized State Department-led flights evacuating Israel are being coordinated as we speak by the State Department for citizens who fill out the crisis intake form. These flights are expected to begin leaving “within a few days” from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel-Aviv. A State Department announcement containing more specific details will be made available within the coming days.
These flights will only allow U.S. Citizens to bring “one regular-sized suit case only” in order to make room for additional passengers. The State Department stands ready to assist citizens with the safe return of any additional, important valuables that also need to be shipped back home. Additionally, only documented service animals will be allowed on these special State Department evacuation flights. These flights will also require a U.S. passport.
Any U.S. Citizens who is in Israel but does not have their passport should still fill out the crisis intake form and indicate on the form that they will require a new physical passport. In addition, individuals in Israel with a lost, stolen, or expired passport should contact the office of Representative Adriano Espaillat and the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem (+972 2-622-7230) or the U.S. Embassy Branch Office in Tel Aviv (+972 3-519-7575). After completing appropriate paperwork delivered by the Embassy, U.S. Citizens will be required to travel to one of these two embassies in person in order to obtain a new passport.
3. To find detailed information on the status of airports and land border crossings, visit here:
https://il.usembassy.gov/security-alert-information-on-flight-availability-from-ben-gurion-international-airport-october-9-2023/
Guidance and special attention:
U.S. citizens wishing to depart Israel can check the status of Ben Gurion International Airport and the availability and status of flights here: https://www.iaa.gov.il/en/airports/ben-gurion/flight-board/?flightType=departures.
Ben Gurion International Airport remains open, but some flights have been reduced or suspended. U.S. carriers have temporarily suspended flights to Israel. Please check with the airlines on the availability of flights and flight status. For more information, please visit the airport’s website here: https://www.iaa.gov.il/en/
U.S. citizens can check the status of land border crossings here:
Allenby/King Hussein Bridge between Israel and the West Bank (https://www.iaa.gov.il/en/land-border-crossings/alenbi/) – 02-548-2600
Jordan River/Sheikh Hussein Crossing between Israel and Jordan near Beit Shaan (https://www.iaa.gov.il/en/land-border-crossings/jordan-river/) – 04-609-3410
Yitzhak Rabin/Arava Crossing between Israel and Jordan near Eilat (https://www.iaa.gov.il/en/land-border-crossings/yitzhak-rabin/) – 08-630-0555
Menachem Begin Crossing between Israel and Egypt near Eilat (https://www.iaa.gov.il/en/land-border-crossings/menachem-begin/) – 08-636-0999
U.S. citizens are reminded to remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness as security incidents, including mortar and rocket fire, often take place without warning. U.S. citizens should monitor news outlets and follow advice from local security and emergency response officials to increase their security awareness.
U.S. Embassy personnel must observe a curfew from 8:00 PM – 6:00 AM and are urged to stay as close to home as possible outside the curfew hours. U.S. government personnel are prohibited from personal travel to the West Bank until further notice.
U.S. citizens should take this into consideration when planning their own activities.
For Additional Assistance:
State Department – Consular Affairs
1-833-890-9595 (toll free) and 606-641-0131 (local)
Website: https://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake
U.S. Embassy Jerusalem
14 David Flusser St.
Jerusalem
Website: https://il.usembassy.gov/
U.S. Embassy Branch Office Tel Aviv
71 HaYarkon St.
Tel Aviv
Website: https://il.usembassy.gov/
Israel, West Bank, and Gaza Country Information
Israel, West Bank, and Gaza Travel Advisory
If U.S. citizens have departed Israel, we ask them to submit an update to the form noting your departure. U.S. citizens in Israel should enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for ongoing updates.
Travel advisory for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza are issued on a continuous basis here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/IsraeltheWestBankandGaza.html
The latest security alerts issued through the U.S. Department of State may be viewed here.
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Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fourth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 118th Congress. He is also a member of the House Budget Committee and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where he serves in a leadership role as the Deputy Chair as well as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI). Rep. Espaillat is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.
Media inquiries: Candace Person at [email protected]
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