Israelis warned of abductions abroad
Israelis stand high risk of abductions overseas, Counter Terrorism Bureau states in report, warns Israeli citizens of visiting Arab states; warns business people from accepting 'tempting' or unexpected business opportunities overseas, as well as unpredictable gifts or invitations to free vacations from unfamiliar or suspicious elements
The Counter Terrorism Bureau has issued a warning Thursday to all Israelis preparing to leave the country, pertaining to the high risk of abduction, mostly in Arab states, but in other countries across the globe as well.
A warning published by the bureau stated that "the threat of abduction of Israeli citizens abroad has increased lately. The bureau has boosted the level of alert for Israelis staying overseas, and recommends they take extra precautions while out of the country."
"The warning applies in particular to the Arab states, not including Mauritania and the Comoros Islands," the warning read.
Sources at the bureau said they were especially concerned about repeating scenarios of the Tenenbaum affair, in which an Israeli businessman was kidnapped abroad.
The bureau therefore warned business people from accepting 'tempting' or unexpected business opportunities overseas, as well as unpredictable.gif" style="display:nonets, or invitations to free vacations from unfamiliar or suspicious elements.
"Invitations to none-scheduled meetings from unknown people in isolated or secluded places, specifically after dark, should be rejected," the warning stated.
During the past weeks, the bureau received increasing reports on intents of Islamic and other terror groups to abduct Israelis.
These efforts are carried out in a bid to divert international attention from the U.N. investigation of the Hariri murder in Syria, sources at the bureau said.
The escalation on Israel's northern border with Lebanon has also nurtured concerns that Hizbullah may attempt to operate on the global level as well.
"The abduction of Israelis was always considered a 'quality operation" among terror groups, which may bring to the release of prisoners and coerce Israel to negotiate large-scale deals to discharge terrorists," a source at the bureau explained.
