Israel sources claim that Hizbullah agents arrested in Egypt on Thursday were planning attacks against Israeli targets in Cairo.
The National Security Council Counter-Terrorism Bureau today reiterated its warning that intelligence information indicates that several terrorist organizations intend to attack Israelis in the Sinai Peninsula, saying that the information underscores the severe terrorist threats against Israelis there. The National Security Council Counter-Terrorism Bureau recommended that Israeli citizens avoid traveling to, or being present in, the Sinai Peninsula.
In Cairo, there have been calls to bring Hizbullah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah to trial. Egypt said this morning that there may be another smuggling ring operating in Sinai, in addition to the one whose arrests were reported in recent days.
On Thursday, Egyptian security forces arrested 49 Hizbullah agents. An Egyptian government spokesman said, "The agents wanted to weaken the Egyptian national security system."
Reports added that an investigation was underway into terrorist plots in Egypt and arms smuggling to Hamas in Gaza.
The Hizbullah agents were observing villages along the Egypt-Gaza border, collected intelligence about the Suez Canal and tourism sites in Sinai. The agents were also smuggling arms and munitions and training local people in their use. The agents were reportedly planning to carry out terrorist attacks in Sinai, specifically targeting Israeli tourists.
In a speech, Hizbullah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah denied the Egyptian claims that it had foiled a Hizbullah conspiracy to carry out terrorist attacks in Egypt. Nasrallah confirmed that a Hizbullah agent had been arrested, but denied that there was any intent to commit terrorism.
In an interview with Egyptian daily, Al Sharq al-Aswat, published in London, an Egyptian official slammed Nasrallah, saying that he wanted "to do to Egypt what it did to Lebanon, and turn it into a playing field."
The official added, "Nasrallah's comments demonstrate his intent to fulfill Iranian interests. He wants to consolidate Egypt and other countries in the region with the Lebanese opposition under complicated global circumstances just in order to fulfill Iran's interest in global conquest as it continues developing its nuclear program."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 12, 2009
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