Israel Warns of Dozens of Foiled Attacks Against Jews Abroad
Israeli security agencies have raised their alert levels ahead of the Jewish holiday season, anticipating potential attacks targeting Israelis and Jews globally. The heightened readiness comes amid concerns over escalating armed activity in various countries, including Western nations. According to Israeli Channel 12, Israeli intelligence services, sometimes in cooperation with foreign counterparts, thwarted dozens of plots aimed at Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide over the past year. In some instances, suspects were apprehended just minutes before planned attacks.
Israeli assessments identify Iran as the primary threat, utilizing its networks, proxies, and criminal organizations, alongside direct operational attempts. Tehran is accused of expanding its infrastructure and networks for external attacks. Simultaneously, Israeli security services are monitoring Hamas's efforts to develop external attack capabilities, driven by pressure in the West Bank and the ongoing Gaza ceasefire. Hamas reportedly seeks to exploit Israeli and Jewish targets abroad to broaden its operations beyond traditional conflict zones, with Iran continuing to play a central role in directing, funding, and arming networks targeting Israelis and Jews globally.
A senior Israeli National Security Council official told Channel 12 that Iran has significantly expanded its dedicated entities and infrastructure for external attacks, viewing it as part of a long-term strategy. In light of these assessments, the NSC updated its threat level for Israelis abroad, urging travelers to exercise caution and adhere to safety guidelines, particularly during the Jewish holidays. The update reflects current assessments of terrorist activity trends and risk levels, rather than necessarily issuing new travel warnings.
The Israeli evaluation indicates that Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and global jihadist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda remain motivated to target Israelis and Jews worldwide. The Council also cautioned against the risk of unpredictable lone-wolf attacks, especially in public spaces, gatherings, and Jewish institutions.
