The intelligence community in Israel has decided to raise the level of security in its embassies worldwide following the Mumbai massacre. The security level has already been raised in India.
In addition, unnamed sources told the Hebrew-language newspaper Ma'ariv that Israel will also act to prevent further attacks on Chabad Houses throughout the world as well.
Some of the security measures will include training and security instructions to members of the Chabad Chassidic movement. "It is not surprising that Chabad Houses have become a target for terrorist groups to kill Israeli citizens," commented the source.
Indian Synagogues Raise Security
Indian synagogues are being "extra cautious" in allowing people to enter their doors following last week's attack. Approximately 5,000 Jews live in India, with some 80 percent of those living in Mumbai.
"It's only natural, isn't it?" said Rabbi Ezekiel Yitzchak Melekar, Delhi's only rabbi, in an interview with the Indo-Asian News Agency. "The attack on Nariman House was clearly an attack on the Jewish community in India," said the rabbi, head of the capital city's Judah Hyaam Synagogue. "This incident has brought about apprehension in the minds of Jews here."
Counterterrorism Warning Remains in Place for Travelers
The government's counterterrorism unit issued a travelers' warning four months ago alerting Israelis abroad to an abduction and murder plot by Islamist terrorists.
At the time, intelligence officials said the Lebanon-based Hizbullah terrorist organization was planning to avenge the February assassination in Damascus of its second-in-command, Imad Mughniyeh.
Hizbullah vowed to avenge the terrorist's death by attacking Israel or Israelis abroad, prompting the intelligence community to issue a worldwide alert.
At least five attempts by Hizbullah to abduct Israeli business people in Africa, Asia and South America were foiled by various intelligence agencies in late summer 2008.