Many Israelis expected to enjoy Passover outdoors
Photo: Visual/Photos
The killing of 14 Palestinian terrorists and one child in the Gaza Strip over the weekend, and consequent threats of retaliation by terror organizations, have brought the number of terror warnings ahead of Pesach this year up compared to previous years, causing police to boost their alert to the highest level.
"Today we have slightly more warnings of plans to carry out attacks than we had last year," head of the police's operational department, Major General Berty Ohayon stated. The defense establishment currently faces 73 general terror warnings, of which 13 are specific attack alerts.
Terror Fears
Efrat Weiss
In wake of Gaza strikes and consequent terror threats, police to boost alert level Sunday, increase presence across country
Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra said: "Over the weekend, 14 Palestinians and one girl were killed. In such situations there are those who want to retaliate, and we need to prepare accordingly. The preparations are carried out on the seam line, in areas unprotected by the security fence, in places where large crowds are expected to gather, and by way of acting against illegal aliens."
Major General Yohanan Danino, head of the investigations and intelligence department, added that "according to intelligence we currently have, there is a possibility for an attack inside the green line and at crossings between the West Bank and Israel. We therefore announced a state of high alert all across Israel. We believe that in wake of what happened in Gaza, the Palestinians would want vengeance. We have also seen an increase in the number of terror alerts this weekend."
According to Major General Ohayon, on the eve of the holiday police will deploy near synagogues and hotels. The closure that has been imposed on the West Bank and Gaza is also set to continue until after the holiday.