Americans are urged to leave Gaza now

From combined dispatches

The State Department yesterday urged Americans to leave Gaza immediately and defer travel to Israel because of security concerns since Israel’s killing of a top Hamas leader earlier this month.

The travel warning was described as an update of one the department issued March 23 after Israel’s assassination of Hamas leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin. On April 17, Israel assassinated his successor, Abdel Aziz Rantisi.

“The potential for further terrorist acts remains high,” the new advisory cautioned. It cited threats by some Hamas members calling for revenge against U.S. interests. The department also warned that civilians could be harmed as the Israeli Defense Force conducts military operations.

Americans who choose to stay in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza should avoid public places such as restaurants, markets, malls, buses and demonstrations, the department said. It also encouraged Americans to stay in touch with the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and the American consulate in Jerusalem.

The department advised Americans to adhere to Israeli travel restrictions and curfews in West Bank towns.

In another development, U.S. officials said the White House is considering presenting Jordan with a written commitment that it is not prejudging the outcome of eventual Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, despite President Bush’s recognition of Jewish settlements in the West Bank this month.

U.S. officials said any commitment would be given to King Abdullah II of Jordan in an exchange of letters, similar to the one between Mr. Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on April 14.

“We’ve said repeatedly that we are not prejudging the final outcome of any peace settlement,” one official said.

The Jordanian Embassy in Washington did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Last week, King Abdullah postponed a visit to Washington amid Arab anger over Mr. Bush’s endorsement of Mr. Sharon’s plan to withdraw unilaterally from the Gaza Strip but preserve settlements in the West Bank.