Israeli and American security officials in the U.S. are reportedly on high alert in the wake of an explosion near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi that wounded an Israeli diplomat's wife and three others. Israel has blamed Iran for the blast, which occurred weeks after an Iranian nuclear scientist was killed in Tehran in a similar manner: with a magnetic explosive device tossed from a passing vehicle. Iran blames Israel for that murder, and analysts say the two nations are locked into an intensifying "yet publicly deniable campaign of violence."
In NYC, ABC reports that additional sweeps of residences and cars are being performed in conjunction with the NYPD Bomb Squad members and members of other specialized police units. "The NYPD adjusts its counterterrorism posture to include information about events overseas," says Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne. "That's why the public may have noticed increased NYPD presence in recent weeks at Israeli government facilities and synagogues, although there has been no specific threat in New York." On the Upper East Side, a bike lane that goes by the Israeli Consulate is presumably being watched very closely.
"This is an extension of the shadow war," said Uzi Rabi, chair of Middle Eastern studies at Tel Aviv University, tells the LA Times. "We will be seeing more of this." Federal officials tell ABC News that there is so far no specific intelligence of any threat to Israeli interests in the U.S, but if we learned anything from Donald Rumseld, the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. After all, one unidentified official warns that Iran is "belligerent," and another analyst predicts the recent attack in New Delhi "could be an indicator of a much broader campaign and it is right to take precautionary measures." And there's no reason for any Americans to wonder how it got that way! BE AFRAID and pray for the government to protect you!
