Barak: 2 Hizbullah attacks foiled abroad

Defense minister seeks to stop ex-security officials selling technology, information in Muslim countries.

By YAAKOV KATZ
ehud barak 224.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
ehud barak 224.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
Defense Minister Ehud Barak has ordered a review of defense exports regulations to determine whether there is legal action that can be taken to prevent former senior IDF officers and security officials from traveling to Muslim countries to sell technology and information. Barak's decision came as a number of former IDF generals were asked to leave Muslim and African countries by Israeli intelligence services, which fear that the Israelis may be kidnapped by Hizbullah in retaliation to the February assassination of arch-terrorist Imad Mughniyeh. Several dozen former IDF generals and senior Mossad and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) agents are known to be involved in defense sales in countries around the world, including Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia, where the Hizbullah threat is believed to be the greatest. The Defense Ministry is considering sending Israeli security guards to some of the countries in these regions to assist local security agencies in securing hotels and centers that will be packed with Israelis over the upcoming Jewish holiday season. Barak said Wednesday that Israeli security services had already foiled two attacks by Hizbullah against Israeli targets abroad. The Israeli activity was coordinated with local security services in the country where the attacks were being planned. "It is clear to us that there is a threat to former senior officers who travel to Muslim countries which we don't have security cooperation with," Barak said. "I think that these people, as well as Israeli civilians, need to be careful." The Counter-Terrorism Bureau recently revealed that two attempts by Hizbullah to kidnap Israelis overseas had been foiled. Defense officials also said that a terror cell in Toronto had been spotted tracking an El Al flight crew on a stopover in the city. Recent Arab media reports have quoted Hizbullah officials as saying that the terror group plans to attack Israel in the coming weeks, and according to sources in the Prime Minister's Office's Counter-Terror Bureau, Hizbullah plans to retaliate for Mughniyeh's assassination are at their peak. In addition to kidnapping Israeli officials, Israel also fears that Hizbullah may strike at Israeli consulates, embassies and institutions abroad like it did in the early 1990s in two bombings in Buenos Aries. Barak said that it was impossible to predict where and when Hizbullah would strike but that the terror group was determined to avenge Mughniyeh's death, which it blames on Israel. "The attack may happen along the northern border or inside Israel," he said. "This is not a reason to panic but people need to be responsible when abroad. The IDF and other intelligence services are on high alert and ready for every possible scenario."