Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., September 17, 2008 Elul 17, 5768 | | Israel Time: 08:07 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Egypt hunts cell planning to kidnap Israelis in Sinai By Barak Ravid and Yuval Azoulay Tags: Hezbollah, Egypt, Israel  Hezbollah and Palestinian terrorists are planning an imminent joint operation to kidnap Israelis vacationing in the Sinai Peninsula and transfer them to the Gaza Strip, where they will be held until Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are released, security officials warned yesterday. "The threat [of an attack] is getting clearer and more concrete," Defense Minister Ehud Barak said, urging Israelis already in the Sinai to return immediately. The government's counterterrorism bureau intensified its warning against travel to the peninsula yesterday, noting that while a warning against Israeli travel to Sinai has been in place for some time, new information received over the past few days suggests that the probability of an attack in the near future is high. Advertisement "This is a specific and focused organization," a security official said yesterday. "This is a serious warning. We know what organizations and individuals are involved in the [planned] kidnapping, what their targets are and where they plan on transferring the captives." An Israeli security official said the disclosure of such sensitive information to the public was unusual, but was approved due to the severity of the threats. Israeli security officials have been in touch with their Egyptian counterparts about the threat and have asked them to track down the suspects. If claims that Hezbollah is involved in organizing the planned attack are correct, it would be the first instance of involvement by the Lebanese militant group in carrying out terrorist activities on Egyptian soil. Hezbollah has reportedly been stepping up its efforts in recent weeks to avenge the death of its top operative, Imad Mughniyeh, in a bomb blast in Damascus earlier this year. Hezbollah blames Israel for the explosion, though Jerusalem has not claimed responsibility for the incident. In response to these threats, security around Israeli establishments abroad has been ratcheted up over the past few months. A few days ago, the Israel Defense Forces issued a blanket ban on travel to Sinai to all of its soldiers and civilian employees. "A time will yet come when [Israelis] can travel to Sinai freely, but now is not that time," Barak said. "I call on all Israelis in Sinai to come back to Israel and not to go there over the Jewish holidays." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Saddam in Tel Aviv Israel's Igal Naor 'never wanted to play Hamlet, only Saddam.' The preacher Archbishop Tutu to UN: Israel may have committed war crime.

Read & React Bradley Burston: What is truly frightening about Sarah Palin Responses: 223 Olmert warns of binational state if no peace deal reached Responses: 230 Kissinger, Albright, Powell back talks with Iran Responses: 68 Settlement rabbi: The state stole Israel from the Jews Responses: 131 11 killed as Hamas forces battle armed clan in Gaza Responses: 51 More Headlines 07:54 Kadima members head to polls to elect next party chair 07:58 ANALYSIS / New Kadima party chief to get cold dose of reality 03:00 Livni to Haaretz: I will not form government at any price 08:02 Financial crisis prompts Bank of Israel chief to convene emergency parley 01:36 Lehman employees in Israel office 'were like princes' 22:36 IAEA shows photos alleging Iran nuclear missile works 01:09 U.S. Jews outraged over phone campaign alleging 'Obama gave money to PLO' 03:25 Repeated abuse of schoolboy caught on cell phone camera 01:42 Pro-al Qaida gunman among 11 dead in Gaza Strip infighting 23:40 Olmert, Abbas discuss peace terms at Jerusalem meeting 00:10 CIA chief says strike on Syria was collaboration with 'foreign partner' 20:56 Only military action can stop Iran, experts tell European Jews 01:17 Italy's Berlusconi: Ahmadinejad acting like 'lunatic' on Israel 04:53 Iran puts hardline Revolutionary Guards in charge of defending Gulf Previous Editions Select Day 16 sep 15 sep 14 sep 12 sep 11 sep 10 sep 09 sep 08 sep 07 sep 05 sep 04 sep 03 sep

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. USA CITIZEN Change We Need Vote From Israel Elections 2008 Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright 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