Israelis, Jews face significant terror threat abroad

The National Security Council published a review on Thursday of the global threat to Israelis, ahead of an anticipated rise in travel for the spring holidays.

Dozens of threats against Israeli targets have been thwarted in the past months, and the threat to Israelis abroad is especially high, the NSC said. There has been a continuous trend of increased threats to Israelis abroad in recent years that has become worse since the start of the Gaza war, they said, adding that the Iranian threat is prominent and has also increased.

There are a number of events abroad expected to draw Israeli crowds, including the Eurovision, an Israeli official said, adding that Israelis attending these events should proceed with caution, especially about displaying Israeli signs abroad.

Iran is still the central, worldwide terror actor and has expanded its activity against Israeli citizens and Jews around the world in recent years, both directly and through proxies, it reported. Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, these efforts have increased, according to the council. Iranian terror bodies continue trying to contact Israelis abroad and in Israel in disguise or under the guise of business in an attempt to harm or kidnap them, the NSC reported.

The war has also led to a significant increase in Hamas activity against Jews and Israelis abroad. In December, large terror infrastructure belonging to Hamas was exposed in several European countries, the council said.

Global Jihad and radical Islam still pose a threat and are continuing to plan and commit terror attacks around the world, mostly focused in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe, according to the NSC.

Antisemitism and the extreme Right still pose a threat to Israelis and Jews around the world, and there has been a significant increase in incitement against them in recent months, it reported. Jewish institutions and communities are a central target for these organizations, especially during holidays.