'Maximum security' at 4 Israeli embassies due to threats
By JTA, JPOST.COM STAFF AND YAAKOV KATZ
02/15/2011 14:01
The Jerusalem Post
Unspecified embassies may be closed due to "existing threats" against them after travel advisory for Mughniyeh assassination anniversary.
Four Israeli embassies may be closed after serious threats were aimed at them.
The Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that security at the embassies, which it did not identify, had increased to the maximum level. Security at all Israeli embassies has also been increased, according to reports.
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The ministry said in Tuesday's statement that "a number of irregular incidents targeting Israeli destinations were recorded in the past few days."
"At this point we estimate that a threat exists against the locations and it is being dealt with," said the statement. "The relevant Israeli authorities are in contact with the relevant authorities in the countries in question."
The IDF stepped up its vigilance along the northern border and Israeli embassies went on high alert last weekend ahead of the third anniversary of the assassination of Hezbollah arch-terrorist Imad Mughniyeh.
Mughniyeh was killed by a car bomb in Damascus on February 12, 2008. He was Hezbollah’s chief of military operations and its liaison with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. He was assassinated as he made his way to a celebration at the Iranian cultural center in the Syrian capital. Hezbollah and Iran blame the Mossad for his death.
The Counter Terrorism Bureau on Friday issued a travel advisory for all Israelis due to the anniversary of his death.
The advisory warned against traveling to Egypt, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, the Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania and Venezuela.
The warning was for the imminent future and called on Israelis to avoid gathering with large groups of Israelis.
