Arrest of Mossad cell in Arab country...ISRAEL SILENT by Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP) poste 10:00pm Thu Oct 2 '03 Israel has refused to comment on the reported arrest of a Mossad cell in an unnamed Arab country two weeks ago. print article ISREAL SILENT ABOUT REPORTED ARREST OF MOSSAD CELL IN ARAB COUNTRY. Israel has refused to comment on the reported arrest of a Mossad cell in an unnamed Arab country two weeks ago. Hamas representative in Beirut, Muhammed Nazzal, told al-Jazzera Television on Wednesday that authorities in an unamed Arab country arrested a number of Mossad agents who were planning to assassinate senior Hamas leaders, including the movement’s politburo head Khalid Masha’al. Sources close to Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Thursday intimated to al-Jazeera that the unnamed Arab country mentioned by Nazzal was Lebanon. A spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry said he didn’t’ wish to comment on the matter. Asked if he could confirm or deny the report, the official said “ I don’t want to talk about it.” Nazzal said the Mossad agents, arrested nearly two weeks ago, were planning to assassinate a number of other Hamas leaders and spokesperson besides Masha’al. Israel last month ordered its intelligence services to assassinate Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders, including politicians and spokespersons, both inside Palestine and in the Diaspora. Israel has assassinated a number of Hamas leaders of late, including moderate political leader Ismael Abu Shanab. A few weeks ago, Israel also carried out a botched assassination attempt on Hamas founder and spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yasin and his aide Ismael Hainyya. Since then, Hamas leaders have taken stiff security precautions. In 1997, Mossad agents attempted to assassinate Masha’al in Jordan by smacking a poisonous chemical agent into his ear. The assassination attempt upset the late King Hussein, who threatened to sever diplomatic relations with Israel unless the Jewish state provided the antidote countering the chemical agent. Eventually, the Mossad agents were freed in return for the release of Sheikh Ahmad Yasin from an Israeli jail who was serving a life sentence for resisting the Israeli occupation. _______________________________________ Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP) 10661 South Roberts Rd, Suite 202 Palos Hills, IL 60465 Tel: 708 974 3380 / Fax: 708 974 3389 /Pager: 1 800 481 4306 http://www.iap.org E-mails: iapinfo@iap.org posted by dhoud www.iap.org add your comments