Sinai terror attacks feared during holiday season

Security establishment officials have expressed concern that terror organizations may attempt to carry out attacks against Israelis vacationing in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula during the upcoming holiday season.

Officials said Tuesday that Global Jihad terrorists were training in the Sinai and Gaza.

The travel advisory to Sinai recently issued by the Counter-Terrorism Bureau remains in effect. The bureau said the threat of kidnapping attempts in Sinai was "concrete and major".

Israel Police is expected to boost its alert level ahead of Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year), and officers will be deployed throughout the country, particularly in the area surrounding Jerusalem and in the Seam Zone (area in the West Bank located east of the Green Line and west of Israel's separation barrier).

The heightened state of alert was instated with the beginning of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan and the launching of the new school year. As part of the efforts Border Guard and police officers conducted wide-scale operations to apprehend Palestinians residing in Israel illegally.

Earlier on Tuesday Defense Minister Ehud Barak confirmed that Israel recently foiled attempts to kidnap Israelis abroad. He reiterated the warning against visits to Sinai, stating that "we have a responsibility as Israelis in the world these days."