The Foreign Ministry issued on Thursday an advice to Bulgarians to refrain from visiting Jerusalem, especially its Old City and other tourist destinations in Israel and the West Bank.

The ministry recommends to Bulgarians already in Israel to avoid traveling by public transport and visiting public spaces of mass gatherings due to the potential threat of clashes and terrorist attacks.

Bulgarians staying in Israel should refrain from traveling to the neighouring areas, above all the Israeli border with Gaza and the border regions with Syria and Lebanon.

There is a potential threat of sporadic missile attack or other kind of shelling occurring as several such incidents had already been registered.

Bulgarians going on a short-term trip to Israel are advised to register at the website of the ministry or to present contact details to the Bulgarian embassy in Tel Aviv.

These recommendations come in view of the recent surge in violence involving a series of shooting and stabbing attacks.

On Tuesday, attacks resulted in the death of three Israeli citizens in Jerusalem.