Defense Minister Benny Gantz over the weekend urged Israeli nationals visiting Turkey to follow the recommendations issued by the ministry to minimize risk amid the threat of an Iranian attack.
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Last week, the National Security Council's Counterterrorism Bureau raised its travel warning for Istanbul to the highest level possible. The Level 4 travel advisory stipulates that Israelis should not travel to Istanbul, and any Israelis currently there should leave immediately.
Compliance has been partial at best, with officials criticizing vacationists for not demonstrating greater personal responsibility.
"Israel is working to foil the Iranians' attempts to carry out an attack and is preparing to respond with force in the face of any threat to Israeli citizens everywhere," the official said.
Gantz said Israel obtained intelligence that several Iranian terrorist squads were actively trying to "hunt Israelis" through social media or identify them at major tourist sites in Istanbul to abduct or kill them.
Israeli authorities estimate that there are currently over 2,000 Israelis in Istanbul, a highly popular destination for Israelis visiting Turkey, whose security forces have been providing unprecedented security to tourist hotspots over the city.
Last week, some 1,000 Israelis were personally warned by security officials over the fact they are being targeted and told they should return to Israel immediately. According to media reports, the majority of them heeded the warning.
On Friday, Channel 12 News reported that Israeli and Turkish intelligence services managed to thwart an attack against Israelis, arresting the members of an Iranian terrorist cell.
It is believed that Iran is seeking to retaliate against the recent mysterious deaths of Iranian scientists and top Revolutionary Guard officers, which Tehran blames on Israel.
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