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Last update - 00:00 21/08/2008
Israel warns nationals of Hezbollah kidnap threat abroad
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies
Tags: Imad Mugniyeh, Hezbollah 

New intelligence on Hezbollah's intentions to abduct Israelis abroad prompted the government's counterterrorism unit this week to issue a warning to travelers, who were advised to take special precautions.

In its warning Wednesday, the Prime Minister's Office Counterterrorism Bureau explained that intelligence reports suggested Hezbollah is planning abductions as its revenge for the assassination of Imad Mughniyeh, the militia's operations chief, who was killed in a Damascus car bombing in February. Israel has denied any involvement in the bombing. But the Sunday Times in London quoted "informed Israeli sources" that the Mossad spy agency carried out the car bombing that killed Mughniyeh.

Hezbollah has vowed to avenge Mughniyeh's death by attacking Israel or Israelis abroad. The travel advisory was a general warning, applicable to the entire world, not any specific travel destinations. According to people within the intelligence community, Israel does possess specific information regarding the location where Hezbollah plans to attack. But the Counterterrorism Bureau's warning says it applies to all countries.
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The warning came one day after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel would dispense with restrictions it has so far imposed on itself in combating Hezbollah on Lebanese soil should Lebanon "become a Hezbollah state."

The prime minister's comments were made while discussing the decision of Lebanon's unity government two weeks ago to approve the right of Hezbollah to use all means in order to "liberate territory occupied by Israel." The Lebanese decision followed the formation of a new national-unity government in which Hezbollah enjoys ample representation.

Israeli security officials earlier this month warned Israelis living and working in West Africa that Hezbollah intended to carry out abductions there. In recent months, Jewish and Israeli institutions outside Israel have bolstered security in anticipation of a possible Hezbollah attack, as have Israeli aircraft and ships.

"It won't be long before the conceited Zionists realize that Imad Mughniyeh's blood is extremely costly, and it makes history and brings about a new victory," Hezbollah's head of the southern Lebanon region, Sheikh Nabil Kauk, said a week after Mughniyeh's death.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said then that he anticipated Hezbollah would try to retaliate for the assassination, possibly with help from Syria and Iran. Israeli security officials, including Barak, said they expected Hezbollah would opt to strike abroad instead of inside Israel or along the border so as to make it easier for the Shi'ite organization to maintain a plausible denial of its involvement, thus possibly escaping immediate Israeli retaliation.

Security experts said Hezbollah is more likely to attempt a terrorist attack in Third World countries, especially in South America, India and southeast Asia, than in developed European countries or in North America.

However, in June the American ABC News Network revealed that suspected Hezbollah operatives had conducted surveillance of the Israeli embassy in Ottawa, Canada and of several synagogues in Toronto. In addition to the Jewish community in Toronto, Jewish institutions in Rome were also mentioned as possible or desirable targets.

Let the traveler beware

In the statement, the Counterterrorism Bureau urged Israelis abroad to be wary of "unusual events," to turn down unexpected, tempting business or recreational offers and to avoid letting anyone suspicious or unknown visitors into their hotel rooms or apartments.

The warning also cautioned Israeli travelers not to linger in remote locations, especially after dark, and to attend business meetings or take part in recreational activities only in the company of reliable companions and to avoid regular and predictable routines.

The statement named no specific country as a potential focus of a terror attempt but classified the threat as "high" and "concrete."

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      1.   Anti-terror hysteria 03:24  |  Stephen Grumman 21/08/08
      2.   Hysteria 04:08  |  Dov 21/08/08
      3.   I like Lebanese cuisine and chicks. Take me. 04:52  |  Sam 21/08/08
      4.   Stephen, stay where you are and STFU 05:35  |  Mark Anthony 21/08/08
      5.   and israel won the 2006 war???!!!! 06:30  |  john smith 21/08/08
      6.   Propaganda 06:48  |  Beat the BS 21/08/08
      7.   Sam 07:37  |  Iceberg 21/08/08
      8.   If Israel explicitly denied involvement in Mughniye`s murder... 07:41  |  Fortuna Benmayor 21/08/08
      9.   The war declared on Israel is a war declared against the West. 08:05  |  Jean Van Daem 21/08/08
      10.   Hey Dov. I watched it all live through a monitor... 08:29  |  BBSNews 21/08/08
      11.   Yes Israel did - John Smith at #5 09:20  |  Martin Pearson 21/08/08
      12.   a country that holds 11000 people in dungeons has much to fear 10:25  |  KMS 21/08/08
      13.   # - Dying Lebanese 10:51  |  David 21/08/08
      14.   answer 10:58  |  eva 21/08/08
      15.   Hezbollah won the war... against lebanese 11:58  |  Arnaud 21/08/08
      16.   My son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren 12:04  |  Yonatan 21/08/08
      17.   It`s other countries responsibility they must shoulder 12:06  |  Absolute Sweden 21/08/08
      18.   Guilty 13:25  |  Imad 21/08/08
      19.   # 9 KMS - These people in dungeons..... 13:47  |  Dagma {second time] 21/08/08
      20.   PEARSON.don`t like cluster munitions?Don`t fire them at Israelis 14:26  |  PETER SM 21/08/08
      21.   KTM ´s Israeli dungeon 15:19  |  Jew- and Bookburner 21/08/08
      22.   Can you imagine? 17:32  |  uta@yahoo.com 21/08/08
      23.   BS Journalist and His BS Reasoning 17:48  |  Tex 21/08/08
      24.   Hezboallah needs to grow up 18:05  |  UN Man 21/08/08
      25.   UN man 18:48  |  Iceberg 21/08/08
      26.   I am getting fed up with Haters and their cry baby attitudes 19:22  |  Big Sur 21/08/08
      27.   It amazing how short sighted Dov & Yonatan are ... 19:34  |  Dutch 21/08/08
      28.   Tex, what incredible nonsense... - 2nd try 19:49  |  BBSNews 21/08/08
      29.   KMS - in addition to J&BB and dagma 20:07  |  David Israel 21/08/08
      30.   David Israel 20:21  |  Iceberg 21/08/08
      31.   iceberg 20:37  |  David Israel 21/08/08
      32.   David Israel 21:02  |  Iceberg 21/08/08
      33.   Why doesn`t Israel take the initiative instead of waiting 2 b hit 21:54  |  nuchem 21/08/08
      34.   Terrorists know they`ll be released if caught 21:55  |  nach 21/08/08
      35.   BBS News Your actions speak volumes. Well done. 22:03  |  Labhras 21/08/08
      36.   #23 Tex 22:11  |  Labhras 21/08/08
      37.   iceberg 22:23  |  David Israel 21/08/08
      38.   Lebanon: The Whining Terror State 23:04  |  Brad 21/08/08
      39.   Labrhas` reasons 00:08  |  utagawa 22/08/08
      40.   Maybe I Am Foolish, B.S. Journalist 00:33  |  Tex 22/08/08
      41.   David Israel 00:54  |  Iceberg 22/08/08
      42.   Labhrass: But It`s Okay To Bash Israel 00:55  |  Tex 22/08/08
      43.   KMS The fear comes when they are out killing Israelis 02:14  |  PETER SM 22/08/08
      44.   WHY threaten all the lebanese? 02:25  |  jason 22/08/08
      45.   ICEBERG self contradiction on"why to kill them" 03:07  |  PETER SM 22/08/08
      46.   JASON why threaten all the Israelis? 03:18  |  PETER SM 22/08/08
      47.   Dark Veil is Descending 05:05  |  Jon Hornstein 22/08/08
      48.   The true face of hissboliar 09:03  |  Adrian de Klerk 22/08/08
      49.   Zions: Watch Out 10:18  |  Mohamad from Lebanon 22/08/08
      50.   #10 Recruits for bin Laden? 15:19  |  DesMnsDave 23/08/08
      51.   #44 When will Lebanon rid itself/control Hezbollah? (2nd attempt 15:23  |  DesMnsDave 23/08/08
      52.   answer to #44 17:27  |  jason 24/08/08
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