IDF worried about Hizbullah infiltration during holidays

Defense establishment fears group will exploit gov't transition to launch attack to avenge Mughniyeh's assassination.

By YAAKOV KATZ
nasrallah 224.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
nasrallah 224.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
The infiltration of a border community or an attack on an IDF outpost are some of the scenarios the Northern Command is preparing for as intelligence assessments point to the possibility that Hizbullah may take advantage of the holiday season to avenge the assassination of Imad Mughniyeh. While the IDF is concerned that Hizbullah will try to kidnap soldiers - as it has done in the past - current fears are that terrorists will cross into Israel, infiltrate a border community like Shlomi and barricade themselves inside a home with civilians. The defense establishment is concerned that Hizbullah will use the holiday season, as well as the switchover in government - from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to Kadima Party head Tzipi Livni - to launch an attack. Intelligence assessments have raised the possibility that Hizbullah believes that with Olmert heading a transition government and Livni still working on forming a coalition, neither one will want to respond harshly to an isolated Hizbullah attack and risk another war erupting in the North. Defense officials said that Hizbullah was planning to strike at Israel, which it holds responsible for the assassination of Mughniyeh - the group's military commander - in Damascus in February. The Counter-Terrorism Bureau has issued a general travel advisory warning Israelis worldwide to maintain a high level of alert out of fear that Hizbullah may try to kidnap Israeli civilians. Last week, officials revealed that some 50 attempts by Hizbullah to kidnap Israelis abroad have been thwarted in recent years. The security cabinet was briefed last week on the travel warnings issued by the National Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Bureau, discussing both the process involved in issuing such travel advisories, and the scope of the threat against Israelis. The counter-terrorism bureau has recently issued strict travel advisories against going to Sinai. A communiqué issued after the security cabinet meeting said the ministers "underscored the need for Israeli citizens to be attentive to NSC Counter Terrorism Bureau warnings and to take obligatory precautions." According to the statement, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said - in an apparent reference to the assassination of Mughniyeh - that "various events have occurred in recent years, which have created high motivation among the terrorist organizations, mainly Hizbullah, to attack Israelis. Government bodies are making every effort to map the threats and warn against them; however, it is the responsibility - first and foremost - of every citizen who travels abroad to keep far away from dangerous areas and to take the obligatory precautions." Meanwhile, the IDF imposed a general closure of Judea and Samaria at midnight Sunday which will last until after Rosh Hashana finishes on Wednesday at midnight. However, entry of senior Palestinian officials, doctors, and medical personnel will be authorized at the discretion of the District Coordination and Liaison offices.