Israel claims Hezbollah plans to abduct Israelis around the world

Wednesday August 20, 2008 22:23 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The office of the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, issued a warning on Wednesday claiming that the Lebanon-based Hezbollah party has plans to kidnap Israelis travelling to different parts of the world. The warning did not specify a certain country or region.

Hezbollah

The warning was issued by an office called Counter Terrorism Bureau which operates from within the Israeli Prime Minister’s office. 

 Israel calls its warning “a travel advisory” and this advisory is applicable to the whole world. The warning set no place for potential attacks but stated that Hezbollah is preparing to kidnap Israelis.  

 The bureau said in its warning that the Israelis who are travelling aboard should be aware of “unusual events” and should reject any unusual offers such as “tempting business offers, recreational offers, and should not allow strangers in their hotel rooms or apartments”, Israeli online daily Haaretz reported.  

 This warning was described as a “high and concrete threat”, but did not specify any country as a candidate for such “potential attacks”.

Earlier this month, Israel claimed that Hezbollah is planning to abduct Israelis working and living in West Africa in order to avenge the assassination of Imad Mughaniyya, a Hezbollah leader who was assassinated in Damascus in February this year.

Hezbollah believes Israel is behind the assassination while Israel denied involvement although it repeatedly threatened to assassinate Hezbollah leaders.

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