Israel warns on High Holidays travel

JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Israeli government has advised Israelis and all Jews to avoid travel to several countries, including Egypt and Turkey, during the High Holidays, a popular time for leisure travel.

An advisory from the Prime Minister Office’s counterterrorism bureau warned that terrorists and terror groups such as al-Qaida might try to attack Jewish and Israeli targets during the holidays and also on Sept. 11, the anniversary of the al-Qaida attack on New York’s World Trade Center.

The warning stressed that Iran is still planning to avenge the death of Hezbollah terror chief Imad Mughniyeh, who was killed in a car bombing attack in Damascus in 2008, as well as the deaths of several of its nuclear scientists. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in these incidents.

Israeli businessmen and ex-government officials are considered prime targets for kidnapping or killing, according to the bureau.

The bureau called on Israelis and Jews to avoid travel to Egypt and Jordan, and called on any Israelis now in the Sinai Peninsula to leave immediately. Israelis also were told to avoid travel to Turkey, as well as Azerbaijan, Nigeria and Kenya.

Tens of thousands of Israelis have visited Turkey during August, despite the threat, according to reports.

The bureau also advises Israelis and Jews to leave Afghanistan, Algeria, Burkina Faso and Djibouti, Indonesia, the Ivory Coast, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Togo and Tunisia, and not to travel to Bahrain, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar and the UAE.

The travel warnings are not binding