Travel Safety Brief | The travel security environment is generally benign, except at times of heightened Israeli- Palestinian or regional tensions, which can fuel incidents such as knife or car-ramming attacks or, more rarely, shootings. Jerusalem has been the most affected city. Most of these attacks target security force personnel (police, border police, Defense Forces), but they can pose incidental risks to bystanders. Other concerns include the risk of petty crime and communal unrest, especially in Jerusalem. The border areas with Egypt, Syria and Lebanon are unstable, with the risk of rocket fire or militant cross-border infiltration. However, the government maintains a robust security infrastructure to mitigate these risks. ADVICE SUMMARY ● Exercise basic security precautions at all times. ● Follow the advice and instructions from the emergency services and civil authorities in the event of rocket fire. Understand the immediate actions to take on hearing air raid warnings, and the location of the nearest air raid shelter. For further information on what to do during a rocket attack, please visit the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Home Front Command website. ● Avoid all gatherings due to the risk of violence. ● Minimize time spent in the vicinity of likely targets of attacks, such as religious gatherings, public transport, military and government premises and personnel, and poorly secured and densely populated public areas. ● Border crossing opening hours are liable to change during Jewish holidays. Ensure that checkpoints are operational prior to travel and allow additional time for security checks at border crossings during such periods. Further information on land crossing points can be found at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website. ● Remain alert to your surroundings when using public transport; when waiting for transport, stand behind any bollards or cement cubes present and away from individuals with overt displays of religious identity. ● Exercise caution in and around the . Seek the latest security information prior to accessing the site and exercise caution when entering this area through the most high-profile access points such as Herod's, , and especially Lions and gates. On Fridays and on religious holidays, avoid visits to the Old City. ● Travel to locations in outside of the Old City, and neighborhoods should be kept to a minimum. The , , and neighborhoods, in addition to other locations such as Jewish Revised: January 2020

settlements and areas adjacent to Salah Ed-Din Street should only be accessed after travelers have ensured the situation in the area is calm. ● Exercise caution when transiting through border checkpoints between Israel and the due to the risk of violence between Israeli security forces and Palestinian protesters. Treat the security forces with patience and respect. ● Carry your passport at all times for identification checks.

SAFETY & SECURITY U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory Level Notre Dame International utilizes the U.S Department of State’s classification system as our primary source in identifying international travel risks. Israel, the West Bank and Gaza remain a Travel Advisory Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution); however, specific areas within Israel like the West Bank (Level 3 - Reconsider Travel) and Gaza (Level 4 - Do Not Travel) have increased risk. Crime Petty crime is the main risk for travelers to Jerusalem. ● Most petty thefts occur in crowded tourist locations. ● Crime rates are generally higher in East Jerusalem and the Old City than elsewhere in the city. Trouble Spots ● Criminals regularly exploit the narrow alleys and crowded tourist and shopping areas of the Old City to pickpocket and bag-snatch. ● Pickpockets have also been known to operate in Mahane Yehuda in central Jerusalem. ● Incidents of armed robbery have been reported on the ramparts of Lions' Gate in the Old City. ● Visitors should avoid Sherover/Haas Promenade areas in the Old City and Independence Park after dark due to the increased risk of crime. ● The Old City should be avoided on Fridays around noon prayer and other religious holidays. ● The Haram al-Sharif/ complex, the Western Wall and the , can also be flashpoints for spontaneous confrontations between and Israelis or Palestinians and the Israeli security forces.

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Protests Protests occur frequently, particularly in Jerusalem's Old City. Most recently, bouts of unrest followed US president Donald Trump's December 2017 announcement recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and setting out plans to move the US embassy there. The controversial subject of construction continues to fuel communal tensions, particularly in East Jerusalem. Disturbances involving Jewish settlers, Palestinian residents and Israeli security force personnel usually erupt in the eastern part of the city, particularly in the predominantly Palestinian neighborhoods of Sheikh Jarrah, Issawiya, Silwan, Shufat and . Violent protests can take place ahead of and around Nakba Day (a Palestinian event mourning the creation of the state of Israel) on 15 May, or following sensitive developments such as the construction of new settlements in the West Bank. Although clashes between Palestinians and the Israeli security forces are common during any protests, a serious escalation of violence is unlikely due to the Israeli security forces' effective public order capabilities. Known flashpoints are predominately Palestinian areas in East Jerusalem (see map above). In the Old City, the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount complex and the Western Wall, as well as the Mount of Olives, can also be flashpoints for spontaneous confrontations between Palestinians and Israelis, or Palestinians and the Israeli security forces. Isolated street demonstrations can also break out on Salah Ed-Din Street and areas in East Jerusalem. The Abu Tor and Silwan neighborhoods experience frequent communal unrest, often after dark.

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Other rallying points in the city include the Knesset (parliament), the prime minister's official residence Beit Aghion, the Supreme Court building near Rothschild Boulevard, and the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in . The public sector is also occasionally affected by industrial action. Strikes organized by Histadrut (the general labor federation) can affect government offices and public services, and can also disrupt air travel. Terrorism The frequency and severity of militant attacks in Jerusalem decreased following the construction of a security wall separating the city from the West Bank and the enhancement of Israeli surveillance capabilities since 2004. However, developments perceived to be disadvantageous to, or discriminate against, Palestinians continue to motivate militants to carry out attacks in the city. These have increasingly taken the form of unsophisticated attacks carried out by single individuals, either in the form of stabbings or vehicle-ramming incidents, as opposed to bomb or shooting attacks. Several such security incidents have been reported near the Damascus, Herod's, and Lions' gates to the Old City. The prime targets remain Israeli security forces and individuals with overt displays of religious identity. Other likely targets include public venues and infrastructure, particularly the city's transport system; light railway stations, in particular, have been targeted on several occasions. Jewish religious sites can also be targeted, as demonstrated in a November 2014 attack on a in West Jerusalem in which four people were killed.

Contingency Planning & Preparation Your physical and emotional safety is our #1 priority at the Jerusalem Global Gateway. A healthy environment is essential for students to learn and grow in their explorations of the Holy Land. The staff of the JGG are constantly monitoring the security situation on the ground in order to keep you safe. Although attacks on foreigners are rare in the Israel/Palestine context, and crime rates in Jerusalem and Israel/Palestine are lower or similar to major US cities, we, nonetheless, maintain a risk-averse mentality. In that spirit, we ask you to abide by the following policies. Serious and/or repeated violations of this policy will result in a referral to the Office of Community Standards which can result in disciplinary consequences, including dismissal from the program. Please refer any questions to the JGG Student Life staff. ______This plan applies to all Notre Dame Jerusalem Global Gateway Study Abroad Students during the duration of their time in-country.

Persons Involved The point person is Sarah Heiman, the Student Life Program Director (SLPD) for the JGG. She works closely with Allison Wattenbarger, the Student Life Program Coordinator (SLPC), to ensure the safety and security of all students. All Notre Dame undergraduate students associated with the program are included in this plan.

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Mobile phone numbers: ● Sarah Heiman: 052 809 0591 ● Allison Wattenbarger: 052 211 0566

First Aid Kit ● Basic first aid supplies are available at JGG in the SLPC’s office. ● JGG Staff carry a fully-stocked first aid kit on all program excursions.

“At All Times” Handbag Each person must carry the following with her or him at all times: ● Current passport with current visa. Additional visa/s to a neighboring country may be required as well as deemed prudent by the security point person. ● Cell phone, with no less than 50% charge, emergency phone list entered into contacts, and at least 20 NIS balance on all SIM cards. ● Issued emergency phone list in hard copy, separate from cell phone contact list. ● One week supply of any vital medications. ● At least 200 NIS in cash. These items can easily fit in one bag. Please never leave the bag, for example, at your table while using the restroom in a public place. If you need to leave your bag in a less than totally secure location, please keep at least your passport and phone on your person. At gatherings and other occasions, we may all be asked to show the items from this list to one another as a method of mutual accountability and reinforcement. If you lose a phone, wallet, passport, or anything else of value, you should inform the SLPD and locate and visit the nearest police station to file a report. You can look up the main police station for the city you're in at https://www.police.gov.il/eng_contacts.aspx.

“At All Times” In Your Flat 1. Pack and Go List: a. Please create a list of items you would take in case of emergency evacuation that allows for time to pack only a single carry-on bag in addition to the “at all times” bag. This list should include key program and personal records, as well as your own personal medical needs. Beyond that, use your judgment. However, you should keep all listed items available in such a way that you would be able to assemble this bag very quickly, within 30 minutes. 2. 200 NIS Emergency Cash: a. Each student is to carry at least 200 NIS at all times. These funds are a matter of personal safety, such as the need to hire a driver unexpectedly to get you to a safe location in an emergency. In many areas, credit/debit cards are not accepted. 3. Cell Phones: a. Each student or staff member should carry a cell phone at all times, with at least half a full charge and a balance of at least 20 NIS on each SIM card. Students will bring their own cell phone and it will be an important part of security in this context. Each person is required to carry it at all

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times. Cell phones should be shut off only as truly necessary, for as brief a time as possible. Setting it to vibrate is preferable to shutting it off in just about any situation. Cell phones should be set to “loud” except in settings where it would be disruptive (e.g., class or places of worship); this is especially important while sleeping. Charge the phone every night.

Alerts & Communication We are residing in a context that necessitates occasional security alerts. Occasional alerts will be sent by SMS (text) message, often by the SLPD, but not exclusively. Please view any text messages as quickly as possible upon receiving as they are likely to be closely related to your plans for the day, and respond if requested. Please also be in communication about any security matters of which you learn.

In Situations of Crisis or High Tension: ● Move quickly away from flash points to a secure location. This can include “sheltering in place” in a nearby shop or restaurant until the situation resolves; shopkeepers are often happy to help. ● DO NOT try to take pictures of soldiers or other fighters, or of any type of physical conflict. ● Avoid public discussion of politics, religious commitments, militants, freedom fighters, or military matters. ● Do not answer questions about yourself or the program from people who you do not know or who do not need to know. ● Do not provide lists of employees, volunteers, dependents, phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses, etc. to anyone without approval. ● Do not speak to the press. Refer any press inquiries to JGG staff. ● Call or text the SLPD or SLPC to report what is happening. Government-issued alerts: ● At times, the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority will issue “red alerts” related to changing security conditions. These alerts can be nation-wide or on a more local scale. If students are within the area affected by such an alert, JGG staff will communicate preferred program response via SMS messages.

Emergency Response Levels of Action I. Watch This official program alert level, issued by the JGG Student Life Program Director (SLPD), requires constant vigilance and situational awareness beyond normal levels (which, in the Jerusalem context, are already elevated). A time of official “watch” is a time of heightened level of awareness due to known political factors. At this level of preparation, in addition to the measures detailed above, all vehicles associated with the Notre Dame program will have fuel levels maintained at 2/3 tank or above; vehicles should be checked for necessary supplies should movement become necessary. Each staff person will have at least $200 in cash on hand for emergency purposes. Start gathering the contents of your “pack and go list,” mentioned above.

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II. Shelter in Place A “shelter in place” action is simply a decision to seek shelter and remain there until it is safe to emerge. This action may be initiated by the student for her/himself, or called by the JGG SLPD and SLPC for the whole or part of the group, generally in consultation with additional staff. If you initiate this yourself, please contact JGG staff as soon and as safely as possible. If “shelter in place” is called, communicate your location to JGG staff. Please continue to update JGG staff regularly (at least every 30 minutes) until you have reached a safe place. A shelter in place action is often the first choice for seeking safety in the event of escalating tensions or violence. However, in extreme cases, it could also be the only choice. So it occurs at a low level of alert as well as a very high level of alert. You will need to use your best judgment in terms of where to seek shelter. As you develop routes of movement between your apartment, educational sites, and other places you frequent, please take note of possible places of refuge in the case of unexpected turmoil in the streets. Usually, it will be best not to move far at all from where you are at the time the shelter in place call is made, as public centers of movement – and checkpoints – can also become centers for flare-ups. Also remember that the people you come to know will likely be eager to help keep you safe in the event of an emergency, and also the most knowledgeable about how to stay safe in any given situation. Tantur is always the preferred location if the campus is easily accessible. III. Gather The JGG SLPD and SLPC could also decide to gather the group. The preferred gathering point for all students will be the Tantur campus. However, there is a possibility that other (or, in extreme cases, multiple) gathering points may need to be identified. Upon gathering, a decision may be made to move quickly toward evacuation, or to stay at the gathering point until conditions change. The call could come to gather immediately and you might only have your at-all-times bag. More likely a call to gather would be the instruction to meet up within a specified number of hours—as few as 1 to 3—with no more than a single carry-on size bag if it is safe to prepare it, and your at-all-times bag. Note that if while moving to gather, you notice that conditions are unsafe to proceed, please seek shelter and contact JGG staff immediately. IV. Relocate/Evacuate A decision to relocate or evacuate as a group from Jerusalem would be a decision of last resort. Unless conditions make consultation impossible, the decision would be made and communicated by the JGG SLPD in consultation with other Notre Dame officials in Indiana. Evacuation or relocation would likely be either by taxis or other vehicles to , or by ground to Ben Gurion airport for air evacuation. The JGG SLPD would be the point person communicating decisions regarding movement. In this scenario, each person would be permitted one carry-on bag plus the bag that you are to have with you at all times. Because movement may be required on short notice, each student should know in advance what you would put in this bag. Other belongings would be returned to students as circumstances permit. V. Other Levels of Action As situations warrant, other types of actions may be called for, including temporary movements of some or all staff students, curfews, “do not enter” areas, temporary public

Page 7 bus prohibitions, etc. Please exercise your situational awareness about these things apart from official decisions and communications. You may be the first to notice something unusual. Always err on the side of communicating too much information rather than too little.

Safety during an Earthquake: Drop, Cover, Hold On. The Jerusalem region is prone to earthquakes. Please note these safety procedures: If Indoors: ● DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building. ● Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture. ● Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place. ● Do not use a doorway unless you know it is a strongly supported, load-bearing doorway and it is close to you. Many inside doorways are lightly constructed and do not offer protection. ● If the walls are crumbling and the ceiling is falling in, it is recommended that you lie down NEXT to a bed, sofa, desk or heavy piece of furniture. In these conditions, the triangle of space created when a bookshelf, wall or part of a ceiling falls against a large piece of furniture is your best chance of not getting crushed. ● Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Do not exit a building during the shaking. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave. ● DO NOT use the elevators. If Outdoors: ● Stay there. ● Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires. ● Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits and alongside exterior walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

If in a Moving Vehicle: ● Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires. ● Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

If Trapped Under Debris: ● Do not light a match, move about or kick up dust. ● Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.

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● Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

Safety During a Missile Attack: Prepare Ahead. (Home Front Command, www.oref.org.il) ● If you hear a siren in the areas of Jerusalem, Bethlehem/Beit Sahour/Beit Jala, and/or Ramallah, you will have approximately 60-90 seconds to get to a safe place. ● Choose a protected internal space with the least number of exterior walls, windows and openings. When at Tantur, if you are able within 60 seconds, move to the underground between the two main buildings. ● Tenants of the top floor of a building more than three stories high should descend 2 floors and remain in the stairwell. ● Tenants of the top floor of a three story building should descend one floor and remain in the stairwell. When the siren is sounded or an explosion is heard, enter the protected space within the amount of time at your disposal, according to the following guidelines: ● If you are inside a building, go into the bomb shelter room. If no room exists, go to the protected space you have identified above. If there is no such space, go into the stairwell. Sit on the floor, below window level, against an inner wall, but not opposite a window. ● If you are outside in a built-up area, go into the nearest building or sheltered spot. If you are out in open country, lie down and protect your head with your hands. ● If you are in a car, stop by the side of the road, get out of the car and go into the nearest building or sheltered spot. If you cannot reach a building or sheltered spot, get out of the car, lie down on the ground and protect your head with your hands. ● After 10 minutes have passed, you can leave the protected space if no other instruction has been given.

Movement Policies Through Summer 2020—Jerusalem Global Gateway Movement Policies for Notre Dame Undergraduate Study Abroad Students Background: The policy document is intended to provide clarity for rationale and procedures related to travel of Notre Dame undergraduate students while participating in the Study Abroad program. As a result of continuing violence and increasing tensions throughout Jerusalem, Israel and the West Bank, this policy is a permission-heavy system intended to facilitate response to rapidly changing situations. In cases where other Notre Dame student policies are less detailed or more lenient, this document supersedes. Situational security-related text messages may limit movement further; in such cases, those contextual messages supersede policies in this document. Please refer to this document when making activity plans outside of ordinary movements for courses. If you are moving about and unable to access the document, please call to inquire about policies about which you are unsure. Feel free to SMS to request a call-back to save phone credit if you like. At all times, practice “situational

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awareness” as localized violence unanticipated in this document may occur without warning. Our regular base of operations is Tantur, located at the intersection of HaRosmarin St. and Rd. in southern Jerusalem. The area immediately surrounding Tantur has been relatively quiet, despite recent tensions, and Tantur itself has long provided a sanctuary for visitors and local residents alike. Check-in procedure will be an SMS message most often sent to the Jerusalem Global Gateway Student Life Program Director (SLPD), Sarah Heiman. If the SMS receives no response, please place a call to Sarah’s mobile phone: 052 809 0591. If you do not receive a response within 15 minutes from Sarah, please contact the Student Life Program Coordinator (SLPC), Allison Wattenbarger, at 052 211 0566. Current Specific Movement Policies Updated May 2019 I. Outside Tantur Do not: ● travel outside the Tantur campus unless you are accompanied by at least one other student, JGG staff member, or trusted local host (a host pre-approved by JGG staff). ● travel beyond Jerusalem and Bethlehem without letting JGG staff know where you are going. ● stay overnight off Tantur’s campus without clearing with JGG staff. (Submit where you will stay on which dates, and allow one “business day” for a reply.) ● enter and exit Tantur through the back gate after sundown if you are alone. In other words, you need to be with a companion as spelled out in Section I.

II. Jerusalem Do not: ● travel in residential areas of East Jerusalem, unless accompanied by a JGG staff member or trusted local host. These areas have been the site of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli Security Forces. o Movement is permitted in the area between Route 60 and Salah el Din Street, South of Sheikh Jarrah o Movement is permitted in the Old City. However, please exercise extreme caution in the areas of Damascus Gate, Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, and Muslim Quarter. o Travel to refugee camps should be closely coordinated with JGG staff ● enter Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, unless with pre-arranged accompaniment from a local resident of that community. ● paint or write on the Separation Wall.

III. West Bank, beyond the Separation Barrier Do not: ● travel without staff accompaniment or a trusted local host in the West Bank beyond the separation barrier. The following are exceptions to this policy: o Entrance to Bethlehem is permitted by foot through Checkpoint 300. o Bus 231 - East Jerusalem - Tantur - Beit Jala - Bethlehem

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o Exercise caution when traveling in the vicinity of Jacir Palace and Aida Camp. ● cross checkpoints after sundown, unless returning to Jerusalem via Route 1. Please undertake West Bank travel in daylight hours only. The following is an exception to this policy: o It is permitted to cross Checkpoint 300 after sundown. ● paint or write on the Separation Wall.

IV. Additionally, on Fridays ● Do not: ○ enter a Palestinian refugee camp and travel in the vicinity of Jacir Palace and Aida Camp ○ travel east of Route 60 in Jerusalem without prior permission, including entering the Old City through Damascus Gate, Herod’s Gate, or Lion’s Gate ○ enter Bethlehem by foot through Checkpoint 300.

V. Greater Israel travel within 20 km (about 12 miles) of Gaza, Lebanon and the Golan Heights without clearance from JGG staff.

NDI Travel Safety Additional Info Our team at Notre Dame International has prepared a variety of materials make sure that you take full advantage of Notre Dame’s resources during your trip and that you follow all of the recommended guidelines. Please navigate to the website.

○ The Prepare for Travel section of the website includes general information about health insurance, vaccinations, and specific travel guidelines. ○ The Safety and Security section contains useful information to stay safe and informed during your trip, including information on: ■ Protests and demonstrations ■ Terrorism ■ Situational awareness ■ Safety Tips for Female Travelers ■ LGBT+ Travelers ○ The handy NDI International Travel Checklist includes general steps for individual travelers to take before their trip.

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