The US Embassy in Jerusalem issued a security alert on Wednesday warning Americans in Israel to be cautious of organized crime activity in the country, according to a statement on the embassy’s website.
“US Embassy Jerusalem is closely monitoring reports of a spike in violence connected to rivalries between Israeli organized crime groups,” said the statement. “These attacks appear to be targeting businesses and homes associated with the groups involved, primarily in the Tel Aviv, Jaffa, and Herzliya neighborhoods.”
The embassy noted the use of grenades to target various homes and businesses, as well as private vehicles.
“Israeli National Police have responded to this spike in violence by conducting enforcement operations to disrupt violent criminal activity and arrest the leaders believed to be responsible for these attacks,” the embassy added. It noted that both the embassy itself and its Tel Aviv branch office are still operating normally.
The statement warned American citizens in Israel to “stay alert” while in central Israeli commercial districts, with an emphasis on late and overnight hours.
Americans were further warned to avoid areas with police activity and to obey law enforcement instructions, as well as to report suspicious activities to Israel Police. In addition, the embassy advised preparing a “personal security plan” and maintaining situational awareness and communication with loved ones.
Other steps encouraged by the embassy included enrollment in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and general preparation for existing threats, such as knowing the location of the nearest protected space in case of a rocket or missile attack.
The embassy’s warning comes amid a growing organized crime wave in central Israel, with the most recent development being the arrest of a new suspect on Tuesday in connection with the grenade attack on a Japanika restaurant in Kiryat Ono on July 13.
The arrest followed an additional arrest on Thursday of an 18-year-old from Bat Yam on suspicion of also being involved in the Kiryat Ono attack.
On Sunday, Israel Police arrested a 28-year-old resident of Kiryat Ata over his alleged involvement in the attempted arson of a Japanika branch in Haifa.
On July 14, police responded to a shooting incident at a Herzliya Japanika restaurant. That same day, Musli crime family boss Yossi Musli was arrested in connection with the series of attacks targeting the Japanika restaurant chain, according to Israeli media reports.
Alon Hachmon, Hodaya Ran, Miriam Sela-Eitam, and Esther Davis contributed to this report.
