Israeli officials have released a travel advisory for Israelis planning to celebrate Pesach abroad, especially for those planning to travel to areas with large concentrations of Israelis.

The Counter-Terrorism Bureau singles out some high-risk categories, including businessmen whom are in contact with Islamic businesspeople or firms, explaining they are at increased risk of being targeted in a kidnapping plot by terrorists.

Officials stress the warning is not based on new intelligence information, but the standard warning which is now receiving increased attention following the car-bomb attack that claimed the life of Hizbullah commander Imad Mughniyeh, an attack that Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah blames on Israel.

As such, Israelis are urged to avoid spending the holiday in Islamic countries, such as Egypt. Many Israelis opt to return to Egypt for Pesach, a move seen by many as the antithesis of Pesach.

Among other countries listed as high-threats are Algeria, Bangladesh, Chad, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, and UAE. Israelis currently in these areas are urged to leave, the report adds.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)