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Last update - 19:03 17/03/2008 Police to beef up forces over Purim, fearing Hezbollah strike By The Associated Press Tags: Hezbollah, Purim, Mughniyah  Israel Police will deploy thousands of officers throughout the country this weekend as a precautionary measure during the Jewish festival of Purim, fearing the Hezbollah guerrilla group may try to carry out a revenge attack for the assassination of one of its top masterminds, a police spokesman said Monday. Hezbollah has blamed Israel for the February 12 car bombing in Syria that killed Imad Mughniyeh, a Hezbollah leader suspected of masterminding a series of deadly attacks against U.S. and Jewish targets. The Israeli government has denied the charge, although military officials have been more vague, refusing to confirm or deny involvement. Israeli officials fear that Hezbollah will try to strike at the end of the traditional 40-day mourning period, which coincides with Purim, a time when schools are closed and many Israeli families attend outdoor celebrations. Advertisement Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said thousands of officers and volunteers will guard holiday celebrations and be stationed at bus stations and malls throughout the country. He said also said Israel would likely impose a closure on the West Bank, preventing Palestinians from entering the country. Israel often imposes closures during holidays and other times of high alert. One of the world's most wanted and elusive terrorists, the 45-year-old Mughniyeh was linked to a series of attacks that killed hundreds of Americans, including 241 U.S. Marines in Lebanon and the brutal kidnappings of Westerners in the 1980s. His trail of violence was believed to have extended into the 1990s, with the bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Argentina, a Jewish center in Buenos Aires and an attack on foreign military housing in Saudi Arabia. Scores of people were killed and hundreds more wounded in those attacks. Hezbollah chief Sheik Hassan Nasrallah vowed at Mughniyeh's funeral to retaliate against Jewish targets anywhere in the world, and Israeli precautions have been extended across the globe. The commemoration of Mughniyeh's death coincides with the Jewish festival of Purim. The holiday is widely celebrated in Israel with parades and parties. Police fearing attacks by Hezbollah or Palestinian militants said this year security will be even tighter than usual at all public gatherings. Israel fought a fierce but inconclusive monthlong war with Hezbollah in the summer of 2006. The war killed 40 Israeli civilians and 119 Israel Defense Forces soldiers and more than 1,000 Lebanese, most of them civilians, according to government tallies in both countries. Related articles: Israel embassies on high alert following Mughniyah killing 50,000 Hezbollah men said deployed along border with Israel Scary, hairy and just right for Purim Bookmark to del.icio.us   Facebook face-off Settlers win right to list country as Israel, not Palestine. Shin Bet.com The covert agency has deployed a new weapon: the blog.   1.   Happy Purim 19:35  |  Mark B. 17/03/08

Today Online Rightists arrested for storming village of yeshiva terrorist Responses: 158 Next IAF chief: Ground operation needed to stop rocket attacks Responses: 118 Court case reveals how settlers illegally grab W. Bank lands Responses: 99 Facebook face-off: Settlers win right to list country as Israel, not Palestine Responses: 44 Editorial: U.S. pressure for peace is welcome pressure Responses: 54 Rosner's Domain From "Hussein" to "Murray" (WTR) Rosner's Mailbox: I used to believe that you just hated Hillary Jeremiah Wright: did Obama explain enough? If you marry them, you have a better chance of keeping them Poll: Is the "road map" still relevant? More Headlines 22:27 PA downgrades renewed talks to protest settlement construction 21:13 PM: No chance Israel will cede E. Jerusalem areas like Har Homa 21:27 Israel approves lawsuits against PA over suicide bombings 18:19 Facebook face-off: Settlers win right to list country as Israel, not Palestine 19:03 Police to beef up forces over Purim, fearing Hezbollah strike 22:37 Poll: Haniyeh more popular than Abbas after IDF raids on Gaza 19:00 'This post will self-destruct in 10 seconds' - Shin Bet blog goes live 22:01 Argentine Jews commemorate 1992 Israeli embassy bombing 22:40 MKs seek pardon for Omri Sharon 'to sit at father's bedside' 15:40 Olmert accompanies Merkel to Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial 19:08 Ex-diplomat: Syria talks could resume soon after U.S. elections 21:03 Jordanian Islamists: Merkel runs risk of igniting `enmity` of Arabs 18:41 Sephardic Chief Rabbi comes under fire over conversions 15:52 Tel Aviv stock exchange loses 9% of its value in 3 trading days 21:25 Arab MK to chief rabbis: Slam rabbinic calls to harm Arabs Previous Editions Select Day 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar

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