Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., February 16, 2008 Adar1 10, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:27 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Israelis traveling abroad warned of kidnap danger; high terror alert By Amos Harel and Barak Ravid The Counter-Terrorism Bureau issued a severe travel advisory yesterday to all Israeli citizens traveling abroad because of grave concerns that Hezbollah will attempt to launch terror attacks or kidnappings in retaliation for Tuesday night's assassination of its senior military commander, Imad Mughniyah, in Damascus. In parallel, the Israel Defense Forces have stepped up their levels of readiness in the Northern Command and the Air Force, fearing retaliatory action by Hezbollah along the northern border. Advertisement Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered the heads of the defense establishment to maintain a high level of alert and take all necessary measures to prepare for the possibility that Hezbollah will try to avenge Mughniyah's killing, which it accused Israel of carrying out. The Shin Bet has been ordered to bolster security in Israeli missions abroad, and the Counter-Terrorism Bureau issued a travel advisory cautioning Israeli travelers abroad to be vigilant. Olmert held a series of meetings yesterday at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, where he was briefed on the situation in Lebanon. Among those he met were Mossad chief Meir Dagan, Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and Defense Minister Ehud Barak. One of the central issues discussed was the pre-recorded address by Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah during Mughniyah's funeral in Beirut yesterday. [See story page 2] Nasrallah vowed revenge and specified that Hezbollah would seek out Israeli targets abroad. "Nasrallah's statements were very clear. When there are such threats there is no need for intelligence," a security source said yesterday. Security sources said that there was high probability that Hezbollah would try to carry out an attack in the immediate future. In the medium future, the same sources believed that it was likely that Hezbollah would attempt a showcase attack that would require a great deal more planning and effort. The main focus of concerns in the immediate future revolve around two scenarios: a suicide bombing carried out by Palestinians, through groups in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank funded by Hezbollah; or an attempt to kidnap Israelis abroad. In response to the latter scenario, the Counter-Terrorism Bureau issued a travel advisory yesterday, calling on Israelis to exercise great caution. In practice, security sources admit that it is very difficult to foil a kidnapping, and said it is impossible to safeguard every citizen traveling abroad. In the long run there are concerns that Hezbollah will target high-value Israeli targets, such as embassies, a delegation traveling abroad or an aircraft. The IDF considers an escalation along the northern border, in the form of missile- Bookmark to del.icio.us   Seeking refuge 123 Sudanese refugees infiltrate Israel from Egypt overnight. Bracing for terror Israel, U.S. fear retaliatory strikes after killing of Mughniyah.

Today Online Report: 50,000 Hezbollah men deploy in southern Lebanon Responses: 316 Israel: We know how to deal with threats by Hezbollah Responses: 141 Palestinians: Ailing woman dies after IDF denies her access to ambulance Responses: 223 Editorial: As with Mughniyah, killing terrorists sometimes unavoidable Responses: 249 Zvi Bar'el: Roiled Hezbollah chief throws down the gauntlet Responses: 122 Roi Ben-Yehuda: If U.K. rejects sharia law, beit din will face same fate Responses: 108 More Headlines 19:02 Report: PM to declare soldiers abducted by Hezbollah dead 23:56 French FM Kouchner: Israel must stop settlement activity 23:09 PMO negotiations staff to meet for first time Sunday in J'lem 14:42 Hamas airs confessions of Fatah members in plot to kill Haniyeh 19:32 50,000 Hezbollah men said deployed along border with Israel 01:20 ANALYSIS: What Hezbollah could lose in avenging Mughniyah 22:16 Car bombings kill 39 at rally ahead of Pakistan elections 15:09 Lebanese PM: 'Open war' on Israel would harm Hezbollah 21:37 Dozens protest as Dutch singer who performed for Hitler takes stage 21:21 Recent tremors raise fears of potentially destructive earthquake 01:04 Olmert: Road map does not keep Israel from 'other lawful activities' 01:11 Public warned about poisoned fish from Kinneret 00:48 Lebanese Army ends sectarian riots in Beirut after 14 hurt Previous Editions Select Day 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb

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