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Last update - 13:44 15/02/2008
Israel: We are capable of handling Hezbollah threat
By Barak Ravid and Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondents and Haaretz Service
Tags: Imad Murghniyah, Israel 

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Thursday that Israel is capable of handling the threat posed by Hezbollah following the assassination of its deputy leader on Tuesday, even as the country went on high alert and warned its citizens of kidnap threats abroad.

"Israel has been under threat since the day it was established, and we know how to handle these threats and will do so now as well," Livni said during a brief visit to Washington.

"Israel's response to terrorism is clear. Israel is a strong country, the Jewish people are a strong people, and statement by one terrorist or another won't change that or send us into panic."
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"Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, it has committed terrorism in the past, and it is trying to carry out terrorist attacks all the time," she concluded.

The Counter-Terrorism Bureau issued a travel advisory to all Israeli citizens traveling abroad over grave concerns that Hezbollah will attempt to launch terror attacks or abductions, as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed to retaliate against Israeli targets for Tuesday's assassination of Imad Mughniyah. No one has claimed responsibility for the killing, but Hezbollah and its allies Iran and Syria were quick to blame Israel.

Israel also ordered its military and embassies to go on alert Thursday, and advised Jewish institutions worldwide to follow suit. The U.S. has also raised its level of alert regarding Jewish institutions.

The slain Hezbollah deputy secretary general was wanted by Israel and the U.S. for terrorism.

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi instructed forces to take the necessary precautions by air, land and sea in order to protect the northern border and other Israeli interests, the army said Thursday.

The military sent more troops to the already heavily patrolled northern border with Lebanon, defense officials said, without elaborating. Soldiers were ordered to be on guard for attacks on both the border with Lebanon and in the Palestinian territories.

"Hezbollah is accusing Israel again and again in the death of Mughniyah. Therefore, the danger of Hezbollah carrying out terror attacks against Israeli targets abroad is escalating," said a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.

The Counter-Terrorism Bureau also issued travel warnings against traveling in places abroad where there are high concentrations of Israelis, especially at tourist attractions.

The bureau advised Israelis traveling abroad to be especially alert and pay attention to any abnormal occurrences. It also advised Israelis to avoid traveling to any Arab or Muslim nation for which a travel advisory has already been issued. Finally, the bureau stressed that Israelis should resist any seemingly tempting opportunity originating from an unknown source abroad, and refuse any unexpected gifts.

Also on Thursday, the FBI has put its domestic terror squads on the alert for any threats against synagogues and other potential Jewish targets in the United States in the wake of Mughniyah's killing.

Unlike many Middle Eastern leaders whose speeches are riddled with idle threats, Nasrallah is known for delivering on his promises. In 2006, he promised to take action to free Lebanese prisoners in Israel, and in July that year, Hezbollah guerrillas staged a cross-border raid in which they snatched two IDF soldiers and left three others dead.

The incident triggered a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah, devastating south Lebanon. It ended with the Israeli soldiers still captive, and no deal for a prisoner swap has been reached since.

Related articles:
  • Hezbollah terror chief Imad Mughniyah killed in Damascus blast
  • ANALYSIS: Mughniyah death could spark Lebanese civil war
  • ANALYSIS: U.S. involvement in Mughniyah killing still uncertain
  • Hariri memorial, Mughniyah funeral set to divide Beirut residents
  • ANALYSIS: Question now is not whether Hezbollah will respond, but how
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      1.   We are in the war between civilizations. 08:32  |  Jean Van Daem 15/02/08
      2.   To Tzipi Livni 09:01  |  Matt Pitt 15/02/08
      3.   To Jean Van Daem 09:04  |  Robin 15/02/08
      4.   problem is not islam but 09:19  |  gil 15/02/08
      5.   Whistling by the graveyard 09:35  |  Natallie Durson 15/02/08
      6.   HEZBOLLAH`S END IS NEAR 09:36  |  MJ 15/02/08
      7.   Mindless, ridiculous harrumphing from Livni 09:40  |  Clickfool 15/02/08
      8.   Hizb`allah-God`s Party or Hizb`al Sheytan-devil`s party? 09:49  |  Daniel Leopold 15/02/08
      9.   Panic 10:01  |  Imad 15/02/08
      10.   #5, "now the big talk starts" 10:14  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/02/08
      11.   Nasralluh knows Israel can destroy Hezbollah 10:15  |  Lynden 15/02/08
      12.   The truth is that Syria did it 10:27  |  Keen Observer 15/02/08
      13.   Imad 10:29  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 15/02/08
      14.   10 Lynden,have you ever considered why israel does not attack 10:37  |  lakshmi 15/02/08
      15.   They Are God`s Chosen People... 10:37  |  Tellulah 15/02/08
      16.   Destructtion of Hezbolla 10:38  |  Brian 15/02/08
      17.   1.Jean Van Daem,where did you pick up that silly phrase `clash of 10:39  |  lakshmi 15/02/08
      18.   We will destroy them 11:06  |  Terence 15/02/08
      19.   Eye Per Eye .. 11:07  |  shery.muslima 15/02/08
      20.   #17 lakshmi 11:09  |  Sarah 15/02/08
      21.   WE KNOW HOW TE DEAL VITH HEZBOLLAH 11:14  |  kuchi-muchi 15/02/08
      22.   God`s chosen people? # 15 11:20  |  Clickfool 15/02/08
      23.   OK, now on to the #1 coward of hezzbolah and so forth! 11:26  |  Sid 15/02/08
      24.   Israel: We know how to deal with Hezbollah threat 11:48  |  Gary 15/02/08
      25.   YEAH, RIGHT, ISRAEL ALWAYS KNOW 12:19  |  indrajaya 15/02/08
      26.   #17 Lakshmi 12:19  |  Sheikh Rattle & Roll 15/02/08
      27.   Yes we saw how you dealt in Lebanon 12:23  |  ralph is back 15/02/08
      28.   Lynden and facts 12:31  |  Truths 15/02/08
      29.   Enough of treats 12:40  |  Hilda 15/02/08
      30.   brave face 13:15  |  Nabulsi 15/02/08
      31.   ENOUGH :) 13:18  |  atilla karagözoğlu 15/02/08
      32.   Israeli BS 13:56  |  Sam 15/02/08
      33.   # 19 SHERI FROM CAIRO 14:00  |  DANNY 15/02/08
      34.   2. Hey Matt - brother,baby,dude,whatever.YOU DONT 14:09  |  S Judah 15/02/08
      35.   22Clickfool,even as we speak the rampage goes on in places like 14:22  |  lakshmi 15/02/08
      36.   Take this very seriously 14:36  |  Ussishkin 15/02/08
      37.   war 14:45  |  TI 15/02/08
      38.   Nasrallah & Mughniyah worthless creatures 15:01  |  John Fellows 15/02/08
      39.   We are in the war between civilization, hornet nests and 15:02  |  Avi 15/02/08
      40.   #27 ralph 15:02  |  x-ray 15/02/08
      41.   Clickfool you have been chosen by God 15:10  |  Avi 15/02/08
      42.   Israel cannot defeat Hezbollah 15:10  |  Paul Wood 15/02/08
      43.   lakshmi you have been calling Abbas Quisling for years 15:14  |  Avi 15/02/08
      44.   Natalie you are out of touch with reality.. 15:16  |  Avi 15/02/08
      45.   First be capable of handling Hamas threat 15:16  |  Neu Tonne 15/02/08
      46.   Clickfool-#-22-chosen to be your scapegoats 15:21  |  Daniel Leopold 15/02/08
      47.   Nasrallah remember your lesson, Iranian ego will not help you 15:24  |  Ferragamo 15/02/08
      48.   Lynden, Lakshmi is a regular supporter of Arab terrorism 15:27  |  Avi 15/02/08
      49.   not,while traitor olmert is prime minister 15:29  |  chaim 15/02/08
      50.   Lakshmi: why dont you stick to Zionism = Racism UN resolution 15:31  |  Avi 15/02/08
      51.   To the one called Truths 15:37  |  Avi 15/02/08
      52.   #5 natallie 15:42  |  Chaim 15/02/08
      53.   nasrallah better be up to it.. 15:45  |  bashar 15/02/08
      54.   To Clickfool. 15:54  |  David Nigel Braham 15/02/08
      55.   Clickfool #22. 16:00  |  David Nigel Braham 15/02/08
      56.   #11 16:17  |  Ichabod 15/02/08
      57.   That is all Hezbollah does, all the time. No surprises 16:18  |  Josh 15/02/08
      58.   Aix 16:20  |  Rachel Kohen 15/02/08
      59.   Hilda -your name... 16:27  |  Anne 15/02/08
      60.   # 19 sheri muslima 16:59  |  danny 15/02/08
      61.   Matt: You Don`t Even Know How To Post 17:11  |  Tex 15/02/08
      62.   Lakshmi Sings: I Don`t Read Books Written By the West 17:16  |  Tex 15/02/08
      63.   Indrajayagagaga Knows How To Bitch and Whine 17:19  |  Tex 15/02/08
      64.   What agenda does Clickfool have? 17:25  |  Mike 15/02/08
      65.   Hezbollah, Gaza, Syria 17:25  |  Andrew 15/02/08
      66.   #20 Sarah 17:27  |  ZUZU 15/02/08
      67.   #31 Chaim Ben Peesach 17:47  |  Paul Wood 15/02/08
      68.   so obvious that saying it is itself a show of weakness 17:51  |  frenz 15/02/08
      69.   Dear Clickfool Please Take It Up With God 18:52  |  Tellulah 15/02/08
      70.