Israel Facing ‘Dozens’ of Terror Threats ahead of Sukkot

September 27, 2023

by: JNS

Wednesday, 27 September 2023 | As Israel prepares for the Sukkot [Feast of Tabernacles] holiday, the country’s security services are still confronting “dozens” of Palestinian terrorist plots every day, Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai warned on Tuesday.

“We are still very much on alert for the Tishrei [September–October] holidays, with dozens of warnings and intentions to carry out terrorist attacks [being detected],” Shabtai said during a briefing with senior police staff.

The week-long Sukkot festival starts at sundown on Friday and will see tens and thousands of Jewish worshippers flock to the Western Wall for the traditional Priestly Blessing.

“I am asking everyone today to refresh procedures on the ground, for high vigilance, quick response to events, and visibility and presence in crowded places. The general quiet is deceptive and can change in an instant,” Shabtai instructed officers.

The fast of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), which was observed from Sunday night to Monday night, passed without any terrorist attacks, Israel’s top cop noted as he praised the Israel Police, IDF [Israel Defense Forces] and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency).

On September 13, in a press briefing ahead of Rosh HaShanah [Jewish New Year], Jerusalem District Police Commander Doron Turgeman first warned of “an increase in warnings and actionable threats of all types, also during the days of Selichot [penitential prayers], on weekdays and holidays.”

Every synagogue in Jerusalem will be guarded by armed security personnel this High Holiday season, Turgeman told reporters, adding that since the beginning of 2023, police have thwarted 31 attempted attacks in the holy city.

Special efforts are being made to maintain the fragile calm on the Temple Mount in the Old City, Judaism’s holiest site, which sees an uptick in Jewish pilgrims over the holiday season, said Turgeman.

Thousands of Israel Police officers, Border Police officers and security volunteers have been deployed to guard Israel’s holy places, recreational sites, parks, beaches and roads.

Posted on September 27, 2023

Source: (This article was originally published by Jewish News Syndicate on September 26, 2023. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90/jns.org