Bank Hapoalim in Israel.
Bank Hapoalim in Israel.Israel news photo: Flash 90

A suspicious envelope delivered to the Manhattan offices of Israeli Bank Hapoalim Wednesday turned out to be an electronic greeting card from a job recruiting firm, police said.

According to the Associated Press, the package aroused suspicion because it was wrapped in bubble wrap, addressed to an officer of Bank Hapoalim whose name was misspelled and had no return address.

The package was X-rayed in a mailroom, where wires and a battery were detected. A bomb squad was called in, and officers who examined opened it safely. It turned out to be a recordable greeting card.

Authorities were on site at 1177 Sixth Avenue in midtown Manhattan Wednesday at around 10 a.m., and floors 9-14 were reportedly evacuated until the all clear was given. 

Bank Hapoalim is Israel’s largest bank, with a significant presence in global financial markets. In Israel, Hapoalim Group has over 260 full-service branches. The bank's stocks are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

Two and a half months ago, mail bombs addressed to Chicago synagogues were intercepted by authorities in Britain and the UAE. Israeli authorities have been warning for years that Hizbullah, Iran and other groups seek to attack Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide.