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Hezbollah terror chief Imad Mughniyah. (Archives)
Last update - 10:07 19/03/2008
Security forces fear double Hezbollah revenge attack in Israel, abroad
By Amos Harel and Jonathan Lis , Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel, Syria, Iran 

Security forces are on high alert in Israel and at Israeli and Jewish institutions abroad before the end of the 40-day mourning period for Hezbollah terror chief Imad Mughniyah, who was assassinated in Damascus last month. A full closure was imposed on the West Bank as of last night.

Iran and Hezbollah blame Israel for the February 12 assassination, and Hezbollah has threatened revenge attacks in Israel. The mourning period ends on Sunday. In the past, extremist Islamic organizations have launched revenge attacks at the end of the mourning period.

Israeli military officials are particularly concerned about possible simultaneous attacks in Israel and on Israeli diplomatic offices and Jewish institutions abroad. Security at many Israeli diplomatic missions has been tightened in response.
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Security officials say that Hezbollah wants to "reset the balance of terror vis-a-vis Israel to zero" in the wake of Mughniyah's death, to deter Israel from future attacks on Hezbollah's leaders. To do this, the organization would have to carry out a major attack that would draw international attention.

Israel's intelligence community has gained possession of fragments of information hinting at plans for a Hezbollah revenge attack in coordination with Iran and Syria. Although this intelligence is partial and unfocused, it was enough to send into high alert troops of the Israel Defense Forces at the northern border.

After consulting with security officials, Defense Minister Ehud Barak issued a total closure on the West Bank that went into effect at midnight last night and will remain in place until Sunday night. In addition to fears of an attempt to avenge Mughniyah's death, Barak cited the large number of terror attacks and attempted attacks in recent years around the Purim holiday.

The Israel Police are to go on heightened alert from tomorrow. On Monday, when schools reopen after the Purim vacation, the alert level is expected to return to normal levels.

National Police Commissioner David Cohen ordered the threat level raised to three, one below the highest level, with special attention given to places of entertainment and public gathering spots.

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      1.   "Israel`s intelligence community" 07:44  |  Natallie Durson 19/03/08
      2.   Fear, hints - 07:56  |  English Resident 19/03/08
      3.   Hezbollah should teach Israel a very harsh... 08:44  |  Dutch Dirk 19/03/08
      4.   Revenge which is not in reality revenge 08:47  |  Proud Israeli 19/03/08
      5.   Who lives by the sword 09:11  |  Steve the Pals. 19/03/08
      6.   DON`T KILL PEOPLE 09:31  |  indrajaya 19/03/08
      7.   Does it really matter who will shoot first? 09:57  |  ZAXTER 19/03/08
      8.   Did not Israel bomb Syria without reason? 10:01  |  Paul Wood 19/03/08
      9.   I like those "Dutch" "3, "Americans", "Kiwis", etc... 10:05  |  S 19/03/08
      10.   Hollandse Dirk 10:22  |  DM 19/03/08
      11.   Scared? 10:33  |  Yonele 19/03/08
      12.   #4 Proud Israeli 10:35  |  Paul Wood 19/03/08
      13.   #3 dutch dirk has one side to his brain ! 10:36  |  v ictor hardman 19/03/08
      14.   POOR ISRAEL !!! 10:41  |  Samy 19/03/08
      15.   Dutch Kirk 10:44  |  Moonir 19/03/08
      16.   S #9 11:00  |  TonyL 19/03/08
      17.   #12 Paul Wood is an ignoramus 11:13  |  Proud Israeli 19/03/08
      18.   Paul Wood 11:16  |  DM 19/03/08
      19.   Hezbollah`s Retaliation is to Deny Israel Lebanon`s Water 11:18  |  Lev Bronstein 19/03/08
      20.   Samy #14 11:19  |  TonyL 19/03/08
      21.   Well, u started it Israel & Hezbollah`s too dangerous to scratch! 11:26  |  Samuel 19/03/08
      22.   #14 Sammy, good post, keep it up! 11:29  |  Nedal 19/03/08
      23.   #14 11:32  |  Andy 19/03/08
      24.   #17 Proud Israeli 11:33  |  Paul Wood 19/03/08
      25.   natalie 11:34  |  Dutch 19/03/08
      26.   #18 DM 11:38  |  Paul Wood 19/03/08
      27.   #19 11:38  |  Uzi 19/03/08
      28.   Samy #14, sorry I misspelled your name in my previous post. 11:39  |  Nedal 19/03/08
      29.   Revenge attack 11:48  |  Juan 19/03/08
      30.   THEY STILL DIDNT TAKE THE REVANGE, RIGHT ? 11:50  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 19/03/08
      31.   Paul Wood 11:55  |  DM 19/03/08
      32.   Indrajaya 12:00  |  Yosemite 19/03/08
      33.   24 Paul Wood 12:02  |  George 19/03/08
      34.   # 14 12:03  |  DM 19/03/08
      35.   you are all "SPECIAL" 12:23  |  Steve 19/03/08
      36.   We are in a war between civilizations. 12:31  |  Jean Van Daem 19/03/08
      37.   Luckily, we are not you, Samy of LA 12:36  |  Romano 19/03/08
      38.   #32 George 12:37  |  Paul Wood 19/03/08
      39.   #24 Paul Wood 12:40  |  Sarah 19/03/08
      40.   # 35, STEVE 12:47  |  indrajaya 19/03/08
      41.   israel started it 12:50  |  VIPER 19/03/08
      42.   #39 Sarah 13:02  |  Paul Wood 19/03/08
      43.   An educated guess of what`s coming up: If PFLP had managed ... 13:05  |  Nedal 19/03/08
      44.   #31 DM 13:11  |  Paul Wood 19/03/08
      45.   proud israeli re; wood ,viper dutch 13:12  |  danny 19/03/08
      46.   #42 Paul Wood 13:22  |  Sarah 19/03/08
      47.   #40 13:25  |  Steve 19/03/08
      48.   Jean van Daem, very predictable propaganda- article 13:28  |  Mark B. 19/03/08
      49.   #19 trotsky writes his memoirs from the volga ! 13:42  |  v hardman 19/03/08
      50.   Israel has Created This Fear 13:47  |  Yaakov Sullivan 19/03/08
      51.   Paul Wood 14:01  |  DM 19/03/08
      52.   #46 Sarah 14:01  |  Paul Wood 19/03/08
      53.   Paul Wood 14:08  |  DM 19/03/08
      54.   Hezbollah terror chief Imad Mughniyah, 14:17  |  David Cohen 19/03/08
      55.   #51 DM`s selective use of the facts 14:21  |  Paul Wood 19/03/08
      56.   Hezbollah Revenge Attack 14:23  |  Martin 19/03/08
      57.   "Israel`s intelligence community" 14:35  |  Alan 19/03/08
      58.   Martin of J`berg 14:36  |  David Cameroon 19/03/08
      59.   Hezbollah Revenge Attack 14:55  |  Martin 19/03/08
      60.   We were duped into believing that Obama was a decent man! 15:29  |  C. Ortonia 19/03/08
      61.   State Intelligence ..... 16:16  |  Samuel 19/03/08
      62.   bollocks 16:30  |  pitcher 19/03/08
      63.   Duch Dork#3 16:31  |  Mickey 19/03/08
      64.   # 19. Lev Bronstein. You have no idea... 16:56  |  Stephen. 19/03/08
      65.   #24 Paul Wood. You are going a bit insane? 17:02  |  Stephen. 19/03/08
      66.   Agree with 14 17:11  |  Alain 19/03/08
      67.   IDF a brave army? 17:14  |  Pierre 19/03/08
      68.   #66, learn history first!!! 17:31  |  DR 19/03/08
      69.   Lev Bronshtein wets his appetite . 17:32  |  TOMY 19/03/08
      70.   #40, Indrajaya doesn`t learn from history! 17:34  |  DR 19/03/08
      71.   My Prescription 17:34  |  Yaakov Sullivan 19/03/08
      72.   Re 17 Cut Paul Wood some slack proud 18:03  |  Alan the real one