Shin Bet warns El Al about terror abroad

Israeli airlines ordered to take extra precautions overseas after Toronto terror cell apprehended.

By YAAKOV KATZ
El Al plane 248, 88 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
El Al plane 248, 88
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
Fearing a Hizbullah attack and after a terrorist squad was spotted tracking an El Al flight crew in Toronto, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) has issued new orders to Israeli airline companies to take extra precautions when operating overseas. In a recent meeting with airline chiefs, representatives from the Shin Bet Security Division asked El Al Israel Airways, Arkia Israel Airlines and Israir Airlines to ensure that their crew members remove company uniforms with Israeli markings when on stopovers abroad. The crews were also asked to try not to stand out as Israelis, to blend in with their surroundings and to raise their level of vigilance when overseas. The new orders came after a flight crew in Toronto was tracked by a terrorist cell that Israeli security services fear was planning to either kidnap or attack the crew. Earlier this week, defense officials revealed that two plots by Hizbullah to kidnap Israeli businessman abroad in retaliation to the February assassination of Imad Mughniyeh in Damascus had recently been foiled. The Shin Bet has also asked the airlines to only fly into Turkey at night, when it is more difficult to use ground-to-air shoulder-fired missiles. In June, ABC News reported that Hizbullah sleeper cells had been activated in Canada and were working to strike at Jewish targets in the country. According to the report, key Hizbullah operatives had been tracked moving from Lebanon to Canada, Europe and Africa.