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Last update - 22:58 03/04/2007
Colombia seeks Israelis accused of training death squads
By The Associated Press

Interpol issued an international arrest warrant Tuesday for three Israelis accused of training private armies of Colombian drug cartels and right-wing death squads.

Yair Klein, Melnik Ferri and Tzedaka Abraham were being sought on charges of criminal conspiracy and instruction in terrorism and face nearly 11 years in prison if convicted, a spokesman for Colombia's domestic intelligence agency said, speaking on the condition that he not be identified.

The men are accused of helping set up training camps to teach private armies working for drug lords Pablo Escobar and Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha about explosives, car bombs and high-profile killings. The armies later morphed into Colombia's right-wing death squads.

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Klein, a former lieutenant colonel in the Israeli army, appeared in a 1998 video used to train far-right squads. In 1991, he was convicted and fined US$13,400 (10,030) by an Israeli court for selling arms to Colombia's illegal groups.

Klein also spent 16 months in a Sierra Leon prison for his role in a guns for blood diamonds deal.

In an interview with Caracol television conducted in Israel and broadcast in March, Klein denied ever working with the cocaine cartels, but confirmed that he did instruct the far-right death squads in how to eliminate the leftist insurgency.

He said he was originally hired - with the Colombian Ministry of Defense's blessing - to organize security for the banana industry in the northern region of Uraba.

Many of his students went on to carry out some of Colombia's most brutal massacres.

Klein said, however, that, They were not trained to kill, only trained to defend themselves. Headed by Escobar, the Medellin cartel pioneered the use of unrestrained violence in its dealings with enemies and allies alike.

As Escobar fought against the threat of extradition, he declared war on Colombia, bringing down air planes, blowing up police headquarters and offering his army of assassins a set rate for the killing of policemen.
Escobar was finally shot down by police in his hometown of Medellin in 1993. Rodriguez Gacha was killed by police in 1989.

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  1.   Death Squads 23:25  |  P. J. Casey 03/04/07
  2.   The Israeli export industry is admired by the whole world! 23:26  |  Andreas 03/04/07
  3.   To PJ Casey #1 23:46  |  Al 03/04/07
  4.   Death squads is such an ugly expression. We Americans prefer the 23:58  |  Apartheid 03/04/07
  5.   #1, #2--you don`t like the competition? 00:05  |  Paul Freedman 04/04/07
  6.   All know the facts? Cant judge no one based on media.. 00:07  |  Stright 2 the point 04/04/07
  7.   exports from the Holy Land 00:17  |  yuval 04/04/07
  8.   Death Squads? Must be referring to Hamas,IJ and Fatah 00:25  |  Cynic 04/04/07
  9.   Well let`s give credit where credit is due! 00:37  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  10.   #7 Yuval; well, it appears you discovered the 00:39  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  11.   whatever..Haaretz is the biggest liar of them all 01:14  |  Jake 04/04/07
  12.   A Dirty Business 01:21  |  Bill Foonman 04/04/07
  13.   #7 so right........... 01:27  |  T A Sheppard 04/04/07
  14.   Israeli Mafia Gaining Worldshare 01:31  |  Roger 04/04/07
  15.   Aren`t those three guys... 01:37  |  Goldie 04/04/07
  16.   Russkie mobster Andreas residing in Basel 02:00  |  Absolute Sweden 04/04/07
  17.   Israel first in everything 03:19  |  KT 04/04/07
  18.   So what? 04:03  |  Mark Lincoln 04/04/07
  19.   18 Mark So terrorism is OK if the perpetrators are right wingers? 05:06  |  Apartheid 04/04/07
  20.   Ballistic Simplistic lies and lies 05:11  |  GZLives 04/04/07
  21.   Hey GZLives; you are the liar! 05:41  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  22.   Hey Bill, you need to post GZLives at #30 05:43  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  23.   Retroactive Punishment For Contractors 06:12  |  Efox 04/04/07
  24.   Peace? 07:12  |  David 04/04/07
  25.   #23 Hey Efox; I like that spin you put on it 07:15  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  26.   Peace?(2) 07:21  |  David 04/04/07
  27.   Wrong, Israel is not training "death squads" 07:23  |  Michael 04/04/07
  28.   #23 Efox 07:34  |  David 04/04/07
  29.   yuval - (ya menuval) stay in exile 07:56  |  Israelite Warrior 04/04/07
  30.   He left Planet Israel 08:00  |  Colin Wright 04/04/07
  31.   #18 - So what? #21 08:01  |  Native 04/04/07
  32.   Ballislapstic - how did one accused lieutenant colonel... 09:52  |  Chachmeister 04/04/07
  33.   #22 Ballislapstic 09:57  |  Chachmeister 04/04/07
  34.   An important reason for Israels image problem in the world 10:01  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/04/07
  35.   Most moral Lt Colonel? 10:05  |  H50 04/04/07
  36.   Good post, Michael from Houston 10:11  |  Chachmeister 04/04/07
  37.   Hitchhikers guide to the Gallaxy 10:15  |  Chachmeister 04/04/07
  38.   ..and Is-it-real is responsible for... 10:24  |  samos 04/04/07
  39.   #28 David Sweeeeeedish 10:31  |  Chachmeister 04/04/07
  40.   Swiss (Dino) come on, man! 11:15  |  Chachmeister 04/04/07
  41.   WHATS THE FUSS THEY ALL DO IT !! 11:22  |  paul harris 04/04/07
  42.   #9 Blastic`s reading matter 11:24  |  Ari ben Yisrael 04/04/07
  43.   #9 KNICKER ELASTIC CAN READ, BUT ONLY ANTI ISRAEL BOOKS 11:25  |  paul harris 04/04/07
  44.   #34 DINO IS OF COURSE JOKING - ISRAEL IS NOT SPECIAL !!! 11:26  |  paul harris 04/04/07
  45.   samos # 38 11:45  |  ChanahS 04/04/07
  46.   # 36 Chachmeister 11:57  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/04/07
  47.   Jeez Blastic I see from #21 You swallowed Ostrovsky`s crap 12:28  |  Ari ben Yisrael 04/04/07
  48.   21#HEY BALLISTIC??? 12:33  |  alonitzafoni 04/04/07
  49.   Swiss Dino & making our enemies happy 12:35  |  Ari ben Yisrael 04/04/07
  50.   27#MICHAEL IGNORANT RETARDS LIKE BALLISTIC SUPPORT THIS 12:37  |  alonitzafoni 04/04/07
  51.   Dino (Swiss) just re-read my last post 2u 12:40  |  Chachmeister 04/04/07
  52.   # 40 Chachmeister 12:40  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/04/07
  53.   # 44 paul harris 12:44  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/04/07
  54.   43#PAUL HARRIS SHE MUST THINK THEY ARE ZIONISTS TOO 12:46  |  alonitzafoni 04/04/07
  55.   #18 12:51  |  Michael 04/04/07
  56.   #36 Swiss dino It goes without saying part 1 13:00  |  Alon Fisher 04/04/07
  57.   #36 Swiss dino it goes without saying part 2 13:09  |  Alon Fisher 04/04/07
  58.   haaretz please print my two posts to swiss dino 13:12  |  Alon Fisher 04/04/07
  59.   Attention all Israel bashers 13:22  |  SLAVO 04/04/07
  60.   `Evil` Israel 13:24  |  Daniel 04/04/07
  61.   # 56 / # 57 Alon Fisher 13:43  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/04/07
  62.   Swiss (Dino) on my way to the gym 13:45  |  Chachmeister 04/04/07
  63.   MAKE FUN OF ACCUSATION TOWARD MOSSAD? 13:45  |  indrajaya 04/04/07
  64.   14# ROGER RABBIT HOPS ABOUT ISRAELI CULTURE!!! 13:57  |  alonitzafoni 04/04/07
  65.   # 49 Ari ben Yisrael 14:06  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/04/07
  66.   63#WHERE IS YOUR PROOF THAT THEY ARE MOSSAD INDRAGAYER??? 14:16  |  alonitzafoni 04/04/07
  67.   # 62 Chachmeister 14:27  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/04/07
  68.   # 66, ALONITZAFONI 14:41  |  indrajaya 04/04/07
  69.   The leader of the paramilitaries claims he was trained in Israel. 15:33  |  Apartheid 04/04/07
  70.   Thank You Michael # 27 15:33  |  Avrum 04/04/07
  71.   shades of earnst rohm 15:53  |  ROB OF MELBOURNE AUS 04/04/07
  72.   Re #4, a Q of terms. 15:57  |  ROB OF MELBOURNE AUS 04/04/07
  73.   #48 Hey Aloni; yes, they certainly did! 16:05  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  74.   Hey Apartheid; earlier on in the Iraq 16:08  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  75.   #62 Hey Chachmeister; see they are gnawing 16:13  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  76.   #54 Hey Paul; what are you doing talking 16:24  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  77.   No one born to kill 16:25  |  Uncle Sammy 04/04/07
  78.   Hey Aloni, #50, I do believe what Haaretz posts 16:29  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  79.   IRAQ should also seek the death squads 16:30  |  SJ 04/04/07
  80.   #29 16:35  |  SJ 04/04/07
  81.   #2 Hey there Chachmeister; what makes 16:36  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  82.   #33 Hey Chachmeister; I have been 16:38  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  83.   Hey Ben Israel; I guess you only 16:44  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  84.   #47 Hey Ben; if I only read what YOU 16:53  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  85.   Dino (Swiss) 17:01  |  Chachmeister 04/04/07
  86.   72: Nope, Rob, just "death squads 17:15  |  David Teich 04/04/07
  87.   #75 Ballistic - It is good news 17:17  |  Chachmeister 04/04/07
  88.   You don`t know Grossman!? 17:20  |  Chachmeister 04/04/07
  89.   Heard of Chomsky: too extreme for me. Does he have an Arab... 17:22  |  Chachmeister 04/04/07
  90.   ballistic these killings in latin america 17:22  |  ya mustapha 04/04/07
  91.   They guy lived 100 years ago, he was a visionary but not even... 17:24  |  Chachmeister 04/04/07
  92.   Right Wing Death Squads or FARC- little difference 17:38  |  Chick Corea 04/04/07
  93.   ballistic ever heard of the canary islands? 17:44  |  ya mustapha 04/04/07
  94.   ballistic i am appalled to report to you 17:51  |  ya mustapha 04/04/07
  95.   ballistic how about a tiny donation 17:59  |  ya mustapha 04/04/07
  96.   #87 Hey Chachmeister; who is the "we" in 18:06  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  97.   ballistic i have always wondered why so little 18:06  |  ya mustapha 04/04/07
  98.   ballistic an afro american journalist wrote a book 18:09  |  ya mustapha 04/04/07
  99.   #88 Hey Chachmeister; I will see about his book 18:11  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  100.   I hope they get them and they hang them 18:11  |  Mark B. 04/04/07
  101.   #89 Chachmeister; I don`t know if Chomsky has 18:16  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  102.   YA MUSTAPHA 18:17  |  alonitzafoni 04/04/07
  103.   ballistic robert mugabe the president for life 18:19  |  ya mustapha 04/04/07
  104.   "they gnaw at me" ballistic 18:22  |  mickey mouse 04/04/07
  105.   #99 Hey Chachmeister/Paul Harris; say, 18:24  |  ballistic 04/04/07
  106.   BULLISTIC 18:43  |  Stash 04/04/07
  107.   These criminals have a refuge! 19:01  |  www.USSLiberty.org 04/04/07
  108.   78#I DONT EVEN LIVE ON THE WEST BANK YOU HILLBILLY!!! 19:06  |  alonitzafoni 04/04/07
  109.   Al #3 and Yuval#7 19:09  |  Sarah 04/04/07
  110.   SAVAK 19:19  |  Sarah 04/04/07
  111.   on #74 ballistic for evrebody 19:22  |  david 04/04/07
  112.   on 105 19:30  |  david 04/04/07
  113.   www.UssLiberty. org 19:34  |  Sarah 04/04/07
  114.   personal to ballistic 19:51  |  david 04/04/07
  115.   These guys were convicted in Israeli courts. 20:24  |  Jake 04/04/07
  116.   `USSLiberty`, lies 20:30  |  Jake 04/04/07
  117.   PJCASEY Exclusively? The USA not involved?Any other teachers? 21:27  |  PETERSM 04/04/07
  118.   chachmeister i have a reliable source who 21:31  |  ya mustapha 04/04/07
  119.   Story of Pablo Escobar: Lessons for the War on Terrorism 21:33  |  Chick Corea 04/04/07
  120.   BALLISTIC lets give credit where its due.The rahrah Islamofascist 21:41  |  PETERSM 04/04/07
  121.   Israel competing with IRA Columbia three 21:42  |  Labhras 04/04/07
  122.   LIBERTY.Just check how many Americans have been killed by Islamic 21:50  |  PETERSM 04/04/07
  123.   Israeli mercenaries 21:55  |  Janice 04/04/07
  124.   Let`s not forget 9/11 22:00  |  Zeje 04/04/07
  125.   I wonder if these three worked 22:21  |  Chris Linthwaite 04/04/07
  126.   Vegas money,and Israel. 22:35  |  pagan 04/04/07
  127.   to Zeje 22:56  |  david 04/04/07
  128.   ballistic and Herzl 23:01  |  Danite 04/04/07
  129.   to janice 23:01  |  david 04/04/07
  130.   Roger from Newark, you`re one to talk about Israeli Mafia! 23:33  |  Jake 04/04/07
  131.   TO ALONITZAFONI 23:50  |  Just Curious 04/04/07
  132.   To Danite 00:09  |  david 05/04/07
  133.   Ballistic - I`m curious 00:40  |  ChanahS 05/04/07
  134.   David #129 00:42  |  Janice 05/04/07
  135.   To Just Curious 00:43  |  david 05/04/07
  136.   pagan 01:10  |  Silvia 05/04/07
  137.   Ya Mustafa: You can`t see me but tears are running down my cheeks 01:29  |  Chachmeister 05/04/07
  138.   You Know What? 01:32  |  Yosemite 05/04/07
  139.   #99 BookS. Plural. The guy has a good body of work. 01:45  |  Chachmeister 05/04/07
  140.   to Janice 02:28  |  david 05/04/07
  141.   and again to Jamoce 02:59  |  david 05/04/07
  142.   KLEIN for Israeli PM! 03:35  |  Jeff 05/04/07
  143.   A Light Unto All Nations! 03:36  |  Kill 05/04/07
  144.   alonitzafoni= PAUL HARRIS 03:48  |  Gabe1 05/04/07
  145.   RE sylvia 04:51  |  Pagan 05/04/07
  146.   Hey Ari; if I read a book God himself 05:30  |  ballistic 05/04/07
  147.   Ari regarding "crap" reading; pls refer 05:32  |  ballistic 05/04/07
  148.   #50 Well Farrakan says--- 05:39  |  ballistic 05/04/07
  149.   #54 Hey Aloni; last days? For me or You? 05:43  |  ballistic 05/04/07
  150.   Death squads 05:43  |  Marty 05/04/07
  151.   #89 Chachmeister 05:49  |  Labhras 05/04/07
  152.   #138 Hey Chachmeister; well, 05:59  |  ballistic 05/04/07
  153.   #132 Hey Chanah; well I admit my 06:07  |  ballistic 05/04/07
  154.   Chanah, con`t 06:13  |  ballistic 05/04/07
  155.   Chanah con`t 06:19  |  ballistic 05/04/07
  156.   Hey Mustafa; did you know that was 06:30  |  ballistic 05/04/07
  157.   @144 ballistic 06:31  |  david 05/04/07
  158.   #151 ballistic 06:41  |  david 05/04/07
  159.   @151 ballistic 07:02  |  David 05/04/07
  160.   #154 ballistic 07:05  |  David 05/04/07
  161.   #153 ballistic 07:08  |  David 05/04/07
  162.   #151 ballistic 07:11  |  David 05/04/07
  163.   to ballistic 07:21  |  david 05/04/07
  164.   #128 I don`t think my jaw could drop 07:24  |  ballistic 05/04/07
  165.   ballstic 07:29  |  david 05/04/07
  166.   re: David 07:30  |  Efox 05/04/07
  167.   Who is this Associated Press fellow? 07:31  |  Efox 05/04/07
  168.   To: Ballistic 07:32  |  Gordon 05/04/07
  169.   To Pagan 07:37  |  david 05/04/07
  170.   to Efox 07:53  |  David 05/04/07
  171.   to Gordon 08:01  |  david 05/04/07
  172.   #164 ballistic 08:09  |  david 05/04/07
  173.   Hey Peter; gee, you have a very short 08:19  |  ballistic 05/04/07
  174.   Hi Gordon; read your post and agree 08:24  |  ballistic 05/04/07
  175.   To Gordon 08:43  |  david 05/04/07
  176.   131#REGARDING DUTIES 08:49  |  alonitzafoni 05/04/07
  177.   GABE1 I AM ALONITZAFONI 08:53  |  alonitzafoni 05/04/07
  178.   149#BALLISTIC 09:02  |  alonitzafoni 05/04/07
  179.   chana cont`d ballistic 16:40  |  inigo montoya 05/04/07
  180.   Say Aloni; only Paul Harris is allowed to 19:56  |  ballistic 05/04/07
  181.   The Israeli export industry is admired by the whole world 00:08  |  Anet 26/07/07
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