Prime Minister's office urges Israelis not to go to Turkey
The counter-terrorism unit of the Prime Minister's office is urging Israelis and other Jews
not to travel to Turkey this summer or for the upcoming holidays.
The advisory, issued every year
before the High Holidays and Passover when Israelis travel abroad in droves,
grouped Turkey together with Azerbaijan, Nigeria and Kenya as countries where
there are continuous potential threats, and where non-vital travel should be
avoided.
...
Egypt and Jordan are listed as countries where there is a "basic"
level of a concrete threat, and which should be avoided. The warning against
travel to Sinai, however, is even higher, the advisory being to "avoid all
visits and to leave the region immediately."
Other areas with that urgent
classification include parts of southern Thailand and the southern Philippines,
eastern Senegal, the Kashmir region in northern India, northern Nigeria, parts
of Kenya and Chechnya.
Israelis and Jews are also advised to leave Sudan,
Somalia and Afghanistan immediately; to leave Algeria, Djibouti, Mauritania,
Libya, Tunisia, Indonesia, Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast, Togo, Mali, Malaysia
and Pakistan as soon as possible, and to not include the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait,
Qatar, Morocco, Oman in their holiday travel plans.
Something tells me that there are very few Israelis in countries listed in the last paragraph anyway. But Morocco used to be a common destination for Israelis, and I know some Israelis who have visited the UAE (Dubai) and Kuwait using non-Israeli passports. Hmmm.
Labels: Travel warnings, Turkey
Obama talked too much about al-Qaeda threat again?
US intelligence agencies are worried that President Obama has revealed too much regarding the al-Qaeda activity that led to the worldwide travel warnings for American citizens on Friday.
But first, let's go to the videotape for some background.
More after the video.
On Saturday, unnamed U.S. officials told media outlets Yemeni intelligence agencies alerted Washington to the threat during the visit by the Yemeni president to Washington.
U.S.
officials speaking on the condition of anonymity further told press
representatives that “chatter” among “operatives” from al Qaeda
in the Arabian Peninsula had been taking place over the last several
weeks, and increased over the last few days, lending further credence to
the Yemeni warning.
Intelligence officials are dismayed that the
administration provided so much detail on what prompted the closings,
and that the disclosures could work against obtaining new information.
Militants are now likely searching for the sources of the information
to both the U.S. and Yemeni officials, and almost certainly will kill
anyone they suspect of working with Western intelligence.
“There simply are not that many who would know about the attacks,” says one former high-ranking U.S. intelligence officer, “so it won’t be hard for al Qaeda leaders to pin-point the sources of information. Once that happens, they certainly won’t be working with us anymore.”
Other
sources are also likely to reconsider their relationship with the
United States over the disclosures. “These guys know their lives are in
danger. As soon as the U.S. shows we can’t be trusted, they will go
under ground and we won’t hear from them again,” says a current
intelligence officer.
...
Intelligence officers say Washington could have cited other reasons
for closing the embassies, which likely did play into their
decision-making. Recent drone attacks have successfully targeted
militant leaders, raising the possibility of retaliation against the
United States.
Additionally, over the last month, al Qaeda has mounted attacks on numerous prisons to release al Qaeda prisoners. Ten days ago, al Qaeda took credit for breaking out more than 500 militants from Abu Ghraib prison, for example.
Sunday
also marks the 27th day of Ramadan, known as “The Night of Power,”
when the first verses of the Koran were revealed to the Prophet
Mohammed, and some analysts believe that date may encourage militants
to launch attacks against “infidels.”
Maybe Obama just doesn't want to win against Islamic terror. Hmmm?
Labels: al-Qaeda, Islamic terrorism, Travel warnings, United States
Israel's Foreign Ministry issues warning against travel to Egypt
Hmmm.
Labels: Egypt, Israel's Foreign Ministry, Travel warnings
Breaking: US urges citizens to leave Egypt
Israel Radio reports on its 12:00 Noon news that the United States has urged its citizens to leave Egypt. The warning strengthens a previously issued warning to US citizens to postpone travel to Egypt.
Turkey is sending two planes to pick up its citizens in Cairo and Alexandria.
Labels: Egyptian riots, Travel warnings, Turkey, US State Department
