The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem announced on Friday the indefinite closure of all Israeli diplomatic missions worldwide. Citizens of the country staying abroad were urged to exercise special caution, including not displaying Jewish symbols and avoiding gatherings associated with Judaism and Israel.
The statement added that Israel would not provide consular services, and advised citizens abroad to contact local police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in the event of accidents or danger.
The Israeli embassy in Warsaw is closed on Friday due to the escalation of the situation in the Middle East, a representative of this diplomatic mission told PAP. The Israeli embassies in Berlin and Stockholm are also closed until further notice.
“In light of recent events, Israeli diplomatic missions around the world will be closed and consular services will not be provided,” the Israeli diplomatic mission in Berlin, Germany, said on its website. Similar messages began appearing on the websites of Israeli embassies in other locations, including Paris and Moscow.
Embassies do not provide information on when they plan to reopen.
Israel launched attacks on Iran early Friday morning, declaring that its targets were nuclear and military facilities. Iranian media and officials said the operation targeted a key uranium enrichment facility in Natanz in central Iran, and a facility in Parchin, where experts say nuclear weapons research is being conducted.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in an address to the nation that Iran has in recent months begun working on using enriched uranium for military purposes and has enough of the raw material to build nine nuclear bombs, emphasizing that this poses a threat to the existence of the state of Israel.
Authorities in Tehran viewed Israel's night strike as a declaration of war.
The attacks likely killed top Iranian commanders and at least six scientists involved in nuclear energy. (PAP)
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