Israelis warned not to visit Sinai

JERUSALEM, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- The Israeli government is urging its citizens not to visit the Sinai Peninsula because they risk being abducted.

Israel's Counter Terrorism Bureau says the warning is a result of increased activity in the area by Hezbollah, ynetnews.com reported Monday.

It urges Israelis planning to travel to the Sinai Peninsula to revise their plans and urges those already there to leave immediately.

"We've already, in conjunction with foreign authorities, thwarted at least two attacks in different corners of the globe," said Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. "The risk is clear to us, especially for former senior military officers traveling to Muslim countries without security arrangements."

The Counter Terrorism Bureau adds countries such as Thailand, the Philippines, Turkey and Uzbekistan are considered "a potential terror threat."