Israel downgrades Turkey travel warning
JERUSALEM - Agence France-Presse
An Israeli border policeman stands next to the international arrivals board at Ben Gurion airport. AFP photo
Israel downgraded a warning for its citizens against travel to Turkey today, citing an "updated assessment" of threats without giving further details.The Israeli National Security Council had warned in March of an imminent danger of attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets in Turkey.
In a statement today, the council said it had "decided to downgrade the travel warning for Turkey to that of 'continuing potential threat'," adding it was the lowest of four levels.
"A continuing threat of terrorist attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets exists in Turkey," the council said, adding its Counter-terrorism Bureau "recommends avoiding non-essential travel to Turkey or, at least, to be especially alert and cautious."
Israel's Channel 2 television said the new advice followed "a series of actions taken in recent days by the security services in Turkey," which "in effect foil attempts to launch attacks against Israeli targets on Turkish soil in the immediate term."
It added that about six weeks ago, Israel's Mossad spy agency passed Turkey information "on Iranian intentions to hit Israelis on Turkish soil."
The original Israeli warning was published on March 13.
It was the first since 2010, when tensions between the two countries spiked following an incident in which a number of Turks were killed when Israeli commandos stormed an aid ship seeking to break the blockade on Gaza.
In February this year, three bomb incidents targeted Israeli diplomats in India, Thailand and Georgia. The Jewish state blamed Iran, which denied any involvement.
