Israel warns citizens of elevated terror threats abroad ahead of Jewish High Holidays

The Israeli National Security Council (NSC) urged Israelis to exercise vigilance when traveling abroad ahead of the Jewish High Holidays due to ongoing terror threats against Israelis and Jews.

The NSC said the Iranian regime continues to finance and promote international terrorism against Israeli and Jewish interests.

“Iran continues to be the main backer of terrorism against Israelis and Jews around the world, both directly and through its proxies. Iran is increasingly motivated by retaliation following being strongly hit during Operation Rising Lion,” the NSC warned, referring to Israel’s successful campaign to destroy Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities in June.

Security officials say that Iran generally views Israelis and Jews abroad as softer, easier and less risky targets than striking the Jewish state directly.

“During the past year alone, dozens of Iranian-planned terrorist attacks were thwarted, including those targeting Israeli missions abroad, former Israeli officials, and various Israeli and Jewish targets,” the NSC continued.

Last year, a European report revealed that the Iranian regime employs local criminal networks in Sweden and other Western countries to carry out attacks against Israelis, Jews and dissident Iranian expats across Europe.

In August, the NSC issued travel warnings to some 40 countries to due Iranian-linked terrorist threats.

In addition to Iran and Hamas, the Israeli security body also warned of threats from other jihadist groups, including ISIS and Al-Qaeda, which have been active in Western nations. Israelis planning travel to parts of Africa and Asia were specifically warned of existing threats from the Al-Shabaab terrorist organization.

NSC lists the security situation in most Western nations as a “Potential Threat” (Level 2). By contrast, NSC warns Israelis against traveling to “High Threat” (Level 4) nations, which include Muslim-majority states like Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Algeria, Somalia and Jordan.

Similar to last year, the Israeli security urged citizens to avoid displaying Israeli or Jewish identity while traveling abroad.

Antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents have soared internationally following the Hamas Oct. 7 massacre of 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping of 251 people nearly two years ago.

A unnamed senior security source recently revealed at the Middle East conference in Washington, D.C., that 45 Israel embassies have been targeted worldwide since the Oct. 7 attack almost two years ago.

“The last time we saw anything like this was in 1982,” he stated, referring to the First Lebanon War, when Israel launched a military ground operation against PLO forces in Lebanon after the terror organization attacked Israeli civilians in northern Israel.

Israel has stressed that attacks on its diplomats or embassies are considered attacks on the state itself.

In May, an anti-Israel activist murdered the Israeli embassy employees Yaron Lischinsky and his soon-to-be fiancée Sarah Milgrim outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington. Israel and the United States strongly condemned the fatal terror attack.