Foreign Office warns Brits going to Israel not to attend political demonstrations

Updated UK advice follows rising tensions as Israelis continue protesting against the government's assault on judicial independence

The UK government has advised Brits travelling to Israel to avoid the large anti-government demonstrations that have taken place every week for the past six months.

It comes as an unwelcome direction to British Jews who will want to show their solidarity to Israelis fighting for democracy.

The government’s travel advice was included in an update on the website of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), urging Brits to “avoid any large gatherings or demonstrations”.

It said large political demonstrations across Israel “have the potential to escalate and become violent,” adding that “entry and exit to Ben Gurion airport has occasionally been impacted during political demonstrations”.

Israelis have been protesting laws pushed by Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition to reduce the independence and remit of Israel’s judiciary in a power-grab that analysts say lights a bonfire under the country’s system of checks and balances.

With just days to go before the start of the school holidays in the UK, hundreds of British Jewish families are set to fly to Israel in the coming weeks, and many will want to support Israeli demonstrators in places like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

With the issuance of the FCDO’s latest travel advice update, it is not clear whether costs arising from injury or inconvenience suffered at – or as a result of attending – an anti-government protest would now invalidate travelling Brits’ insurance.