BICOM

Israel’s National Security Council Counter-Terrorism Bureau yesterday issued a travel advisory ahead of the upcoming public holiday season, warning Israeli tourists that they could be targets for Islamist terrorists including ISIS, especially in Western Europe.

The advisory expressed particular concern over the danger of radicalised Muslims from Europe returning home, having travelled to the Middle East to take up arms, siting the murder of four people at the Jewish Museum in Brussels in May as evidence of such a threat. The statement said, “There are concerns about additional attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets around the world, with an emphasis on Western Europe, by global jihadi elements (including ISIS), particularly by veterans of Syria and Iraq who return to their countries.”

The bureau also warned of a general increase in hostility towards Israel in many countries, saying, “There is — at this time — an increasing potential threat as a result of the recent Operation Protective Edge during which there were many demonstrations at Israeli embassies and consulates around the world.” The statement added, “There has also been an increase in anti-Semitic incidents. These trends are likely to continue during the holiday period.” In addition, the communique warned that Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed terror groups are targeting Israeli business people and former senior officials for kidnapping or murder.

Hezbollah is thought by Israeli and Bulgarian authorities to have been responsible for the bombing of an Israeli tourist bus at the Black Sea resort of Burgas in 2012 which killed 12 people. Meanwhile, in 2008, a mass terror attack took place at the Chabad Jewish centre in Mumbai, India, which is frequented by Israeli tourists. Last week, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs advised Israelis to be alert when traveling in the country including gatherings in Indian cities and visits to tourist sites. The ministry added that it would seek look to bolster security for Israelis traveling in India.