No one is making any official declaration to Israelis vacationing in Antalya, but the message is loud and clear: Cut short trips in southern Turkey, where there is a severe terror warning.
Anti-Terrorism Bureau chief Danny Arditi called upon Israeli tourists in Antalya – according to travel agents, some 4,000 people – to come home.
Some vacationers only left last night from Ben-Gurion International Airport for the southern tourist locale.
Arditi told Ynet: “If someone has only one or two days left in these areas, I’d suggest they cut short their trip and come home. If someone has plans to stay there longer, I suggest a similar spot in another part of Turkey.”
He added that those who stay behind should be very careful to either stay in their hotels or only go to areas protected by Turkish security.
General threat
Arditi said the threat was not aimed at one specific location.
“The threat is for the entire beachfront region,” he said, “including cities such as Ankara, Antalya and Kemer. These are popular destinations for Israeli travelers.”
Arditi added, “The threat comes from worldwide jihad organizations and is not directed specifically at Israelis, but rather at foreign tourists, including Israelis. Therefore, the threats must be taken seriously.”
Monday, the Anti-Terrorism Bureau issued a travel warning for 3,000 kilometers of Turkish coastline, after Turkish officials discovered evidence of a terror cell in Antalya.
Earlier this week, four Israeli ships were diverted from Turkish ports following “concrete” intelligence about a potential strike.