Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., April 30, 2009 Iyyar 6, 5769 | | Israel Time: 16:48 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File TLV 100
Last update - 01:21 04/04/2009
Are New York Jews a target if Israel strikes Iran?
By The Associated Press
Tags: Jewish World, Israel News 

The New York Police Department has prepared plans to beef up security at the city's synagogues and other Jewish sites amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, officials confirmed Friday.

Concerns that Muslim extremist groups might retaliate against civilians in New York City's Jewish community if Israel were to attack Iran's nuclear facilities prompted the NYPD to put together a response plan that includes deploying extra officers, including heavily armed "Hercules Teams," to synagogues, Jewish community centers and Israeli diplomatic offices.

The nation's largest police department revealed for the first time this week that it already took similar precautions in 2008 after Imad Mughniyeh, a senior Hezbollah commander, was killed in a car bombing in Syria. The group blamed Israel for Mughniyeh's death.
Advertisement
"Just in case there was some kind of retaliation in New York, we had an operational plan that was implemented within hours of knowing he was hit," Mitch Silber, a top NYPD intelligence analyst, said Friday at a briefing about security measures for the Jewish holiday of Passover.

There have been no specific threats reported against the city during the weeklong holiday that started Thursday. But officials say the NYPD, since sharpening its focus on anti-terrorism after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, has kept a constant eye on militant groups like Hezbollah for signs they might attack the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.

More than seven years after the Sept. 11 attacks, "we know that counterterrorism is now a permanent part of our mission," Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said at the briefing.

Both U.S. and Israeli military commanders have said in recent weeks that Iran, an alleged sponsor of Hezbollah, is nearing nuclear capability.

Israeli officials have long identified a nuclear-armed Iran as the most serious threat to the Jewish state. While not directly threatening to take out Iran's nuclear facilities, Israel has refused to rule out a military option.

The tension has prompted the NYPD to "prepare for any retaliation that might happen within the region but more specifically in the West, and more specifically New York City," Silber said.

Hoping to get a better understanding of terror tactics, the department sent a three-member Intelligence Division team headed by Assistant Commissioner Lawrence Sanchez to Argentina in 2008 to confer with authorities about two notorious attacks there.

The first was the deadly 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy, which came after Israel assassinated a Hezbollah leader. The other was a 1994 community center bombing, purportedly organized by Mughniyeh, that occurred after Israel captured a Hezbollah leader in Lebanon.

The detectives were struck by how the attacks occurred on the other side of the globe within weeks of possible provocation - a quick turnaround that suggested reconnaissance on South America's largest Jewish community had been done much earlier in anticipation it would come in handy later.

The NYPD believes similar surveillance might have already occurred in New York.

Officials cite the expulsion in 2004 of two security guards at Iran's UN mission for photographing city landmarks and other "sensitive sites" on at last two occasions.

Several months earlier two Iranian citizens were questioned while taking video images of the subway tracks. The pair claimed diplomatic immunity and were never charged with any wrongdoing.

Related articles:
  • N.Y. synagogues feel holiday pinch as financial crisis wears on congregants
  • Israel Police: Less violent crime here, but New Yorkers appreciate their cops more
  • Pro-Palestinian Bronx Expressway banner - a Jewish initiative
  • Now Israel's most beautiful sites can be visited in New York
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Swine killed over flu
    Egypt orders pigs killed in anticipation of pandemic.
    Obama greets Israel
    U.S. President salutes Israel's 61st independence day.
      1.   lol, it`s funny how Israelis try sp hard to look serious 01:56  |  KMX 04/04/09
      2.   Funny the Synogogues in Tehran Don`t Lock Their Doors 02:19  |  Persian Kitty 04/04/09
      3.   This is more B.S. from Israel 02:52  |  sam 04/04/09
      4.   this is a great deal 02:54  |  Jesus 04/04/09
      5.   #1 - Yeah - How happy can you be... in Tehran under the mullah 03:08  |  Simha 04/04/09
      6.   Reply to Persian Kitty 03:09  |  Sam C 04/04/09
      7.   Counterterrorism 03:24  |  Anonymous 04/04/09
      8.   Counterterrorism 03:24  |  Anonymous 04/04/09
      9.   No Iran attack for you Simha... 03:58  |  BBSNews 04/04/09
      10.   Another attempt to look victim 04:39  |  irelevant 04/04/09
      11.   Who would be most angry? 04:42  |  American in NY 04/04/09
      12.   Sam C 04:52  |  Persian Kitty 04/04/09
      13.   Bomb Iran`s nuke site and get it over with already! 05:14  |  D 04/04/09
      14.   Peace Threat. 05:50  |  Iain 04/04/09
      15.   to Sam C 07:43  |  Paul 04/04/09
      16.   Are Teheran Persians a target if Israel strikes Iran? 07:54  |  steve 04/04/09
      17.   How would Israel cope with peace? 08:46  |  Palestinian Brit 04/04/09
      18.   If Israel does this?? 11:00  |  No need 04/04/09
      19.   Only those 11:54  |  Nechama 04/04/09
      20.   NYPD and 9/11 response 12:04  |  Manny Goldstein 04/04/09
      21.   The Canadian Threat And Maybe San Diego 13:07  |  Yosemite 04/04/09
      22.   Palestinian ( same as "Atlantis"?) nonexistent. 13:57  |  petra 04/04/09
      23.   IN CASE NOBODY NOTICED 14:43  |  Jackie 04/04/09
      24.   Israel was no match to Hizb, overmatch to Gaza, will be... 16:18  |  Monitor 04/04/09
      25.   Something needs to be done before it is too late 16:54  |  Joe 04/04/09
      26.   Palestinian Brit- Israel coping with peace 17:46  |  Arnold 04/04/09
      27.   Target?! 17:47  |  Vector 04/04/09
      28.   please stop this rhetoric- allow Iran.... 17:57  |  Arnold 04/04/09
      29.   Listen If Ahmadinejad Gets Hurt... 18:01  |  Yosemite 04/04/09
      30.   5, we isrealis depend entirely on US! 18:18  |  NOONE 04/04/09
      31.   isreal very confused 18:22  |  yes 04/04/09
      32.   all Jews are endangered by this new gov`t 18:51  |  Shelley 04/04/09
      33.   Jews are special people! 19:42  |  witness 04/04/09
      34.   It seems theres no need anymore for any guides 19:48  |  Kris Lazar 04/04/09
      35.   Joe, let me explain something to you... 20:01  |  BBSNews 04/04/09
      36.   Even if the Pals had a state they wouldn`t want peace 20:27  |  x-ray 04/04/09
      37.   Coping with peace, PalBrit? 21:27  |  Musa ibn Harb 04/04/09
      38.   # 5 simha 22:49  |  Axel 04/04/09
      39.   Warmongers 23:44  |  George 04/04/09
      40.   # 6 Sam C 00:29  |  Rick 05/04/09
      41.   Axel= Gaza is under Hamas-Ikhwan occupation not Israeli 00:48  |  Simha 05/04/09
      42.   24 - with this "talkative" US administration, I would advise my 01:12  |  Simha 05/04/09
      43.   American Jews Stand By You Israel 01:27  |  Mikhael 05/04/09
      44.   George 05:37  |  Jasper 05/04/09
      45.   # 31 simha says: "we don`t need anyone`s permission..."(2nd try) 08:52  |  eric 05/04/09
      46.   Didn`t they already attack Argentina? 00:21  |  Former PeaceNow 21/04/09
      47.   Enough already 16:44  |  Yoeli 30/04/09
     Haaretz Hot Topics
    Durban II conference
    Air strike in Sudan
    Israel 2009 election results: Voter breakdown
    Israel vs. Hamas
    Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
    More Headlines
    16:30 Two more suspected swine flu cases as Health Ministry raises alert
    16:37 7 Israeli Arabs suspected of plotting to kidnap IDF soldiers
    16:15 Report: Turkey ends war crimes probe of Israel over Gaza op
    14:52 Did U.K. airline cater to Muslims by wiping Israel off map?
    08:55 Israel to EU: Criticism of Netanyahu government unacceptable
    11:49 Israeli with swine flu 'healthy as an ox', but will remain hospitalized
    16:22 Palestinian hijacker of Achille Lauro cruise released from prison
    21:43 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
    10:51 Obama in 2012, after he fails to deal with Iran
    01:49 Ben-Eliezer: Netanyahu will surprise us with 'serious' Syria talks
    09:00 Q&A with Health Ministry adviser on swine flu in Israel
    10:55 Parents in shock as court acquits two mobsters in murder of girl
    12:20 Peres: Bombing Iran may not be the 'best solution'
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
    Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
    The Meier on Rothschild Tower
    Masterpiece Residence in the Heart of Tel Aviv
    Dead Sea Skin Care
    Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
    Camp Kimama Israel 2009
    The best place for your children this summer
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
    Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved