The Israeli security apparatus has been preparing for large-scale attacks since the September 11 assaults on New York and Washington, a top Israeli security source told the Tel Aviv-based Ha'aretz daily. The working assumption made by security forces is that a network of activists affiliated with Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network already exists in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
"We are assuming that bin Laden has his network deployed in Israel, but we don't yet have a clear picture of their degree of preparation for carrying out massive attacks," said the source. "We know that bin Laden has his eye on Israel," he said.
Security officials believe that many of the Qaida activists in Israel are Lebanese or Palestinian Shi'ites, but that some also hold European passports. Israel learned only in retrospect of British al Qaeda activist Richard Reid's visit to the country last year.
Reid was caught in December 2001 while trying to blow up a plane using powerful explosives hidden in his shoes. Reid had visited Israel and Gaza last July to gather information in preparation for future terror attacks.
According to Israeli media reports, on Saturday night, Israeli military sources identified the explosive used to destroy an Israeli tank on February 14 in Gaza Strip, as a super-powerful development of C-4.
According to sources, C-4 was the explosive found in Reid’s shoes.
In addition to Reid, a number of other Europeans who have been detained in Israel, such as the British citizen Gerard Schumann who was arrested over a year ago, may also be connected to the al Qaeda network.
Israeli preparations for the different type of attacks have included changes in guidelines given to the anti-aircraft division in the Israeli army, shortening the time it takes to decide whether or not to bring down an unidentified plane, reports Haaretz.
Since the outbreak of the Palestinian intifada, the well known insurance company Lloyd's defined Israel as a country with a very high risk level, thereby raising the premiums for ships docking in the country's ports. A month ago, the company's representatives visited Israel and found that security procedures at the ports were "two levels higher" than those accepted in other ports worldwide.
It should be mentioned that during an interview with Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama Bin-Ladin's close associate, during November 2001 he said Al-Qaeda's next target was Tel Aviv. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
