Israel on Alert, Living Obsession of Hezbollah’s Revenge

Almanar
Hanan Awarekeh Readers Number : 309


02/02/2009

"You have killed Hajj Imad (Moghniyeh) outside the natural battlefield. You used to fight us here on our land. Today you went outside the border….Today I tell you that with this murder, the timing, method and location, if you want this kind of open war, then let it be an open war of this kind," Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah speaking at the funeral of Islamic Resistance commander martyr Imad Moghniyeh (Hajj Redwan) on 16/2/2008.

Since then the Israeli occupation government is living the obsession of Hezbollah’s retaliation for Hajj Redwan’s assassination.

Israeli security services are on high alert due to “concrete intelligence” that Hezbollah is in advanced stages of preparing an attack against Israelis abroad to avenge the killing of its military commander Imad Moghniyeh (Hajj Redwan), who was assassinated in a car bomb in Damascus last February.

The Counter-Terrorism Bureau issued a severe travel warning on Sunday for Israelis abroad, two weeks ahead of the one-year year anniversary of the assassination. "Hezbollah appears to be prepared to carry out a serious attack in the form of an assassination or a kidnapping of an Israeli target, including abroad," the bureau said in a statement. "This threatens every Israeli, especially senior figures."

The Counter-Terrorism Bureau, which is based in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, described the threat as "concrete and at the highest level."

The Israeli organization recommends that Israelis not stay in Arab or Muslim countries and advises refusing offers from suspicious or unknown characters, refraining from gathering with friends in crowded areas, and avoiding routine patterns.

Israeli Military Intelligence chief Amos Yadlin told the cabinet on Sunday that Hezbollah is committed to avenging Moghniyeh's death, but does not want to cause an incident that could lead to renewed fighting with Israel.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Israel was "following developments in Hezbollah that are linked to the possibility that they would carry out an attack connected with Moghniyeh."

"The one-year anniversary of this event is approaching," he told the cabinet. "I am not sure that the specific date is binding, and an attack can occur before or after, but there is no doubt that Hezbollah intends to take action."

Meanwhile, Israeli electronic site reported that Israel plans to step up the security abroad of four Knesset members with security-related background. The MKs in question include former Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz (who was Israeli defense minister during the Second Lebanon War), former Minister for Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu), Chairman of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Tzachi Hanegbi (Kadima), and MK Isaac Ben-Israel (Kadima).

After the Ministerial Committee on Shin Bet Affairs – which includes the prime minister, ministers, the attorney general and the heads of the Shin Bet general security service and National Security Council – approve the increased security on the four MKs, the decision will be handed over to a committee headed by Major-General (Res.) Amos Yaron, which approves unusual personal security according to recommendations of the Israeli defense establishment.

The Israeli security establishment is also preparing to protect institutions abroad – including embassies and delegations worldwide. Simultaneously, the intelligence establishment led by the Mossad is attempting to locate organizations aimed at targeting Jewish officials and institutions across the world.

Israeli security officials believe that Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah's speech last Thursday, in which he said that Israel was still holding 350 bodies of Lebanese detainees, was aimed at preparing for capturing of Israelis in a bid to regain these bodies.

Asked about Hezbollah's retaliation to the assassination of Hajj Redwan in the press conference, Sayyed Nasrallah reiterated that "the day won't come when we'll put the blood vengeance for the martyr Moghniyyeh behind us, it will always be ahead of us," vowing that Hezbollah would avenge the assassination and confirming that the investigation proved that the Israeli Mossad was behind the crime. "The Israelis are living in fear of our revenge. Don’t expect me to say when we will strike or respond to what the Israelis claim had happened."

The Hezbollah Secretary General renewed the Resistance's readiness to face any Israeli adventure in Lebanon, saying "No body can say that Lebanon is safe since the Israeli has no problem in inventing pretext for his aggressions." His eminence addressed the Israelis saying "war with us won't be a picnic; it will be costly for you and your army."

At the funeral of Hajj Redwan last year, Sayyed Nasrallah concluded his speech stressing that “the blood of martyr Imad only makes us stronger and gives us additional motive to continue the road with a wider perspective,” adding that martyr Moghniyeh’s blood would serve in wiping out Israel.