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Iran-backed Hizbullah takes charge in Palestinian war effort

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, May 8, 2001

GAZA — The Hizbullah has been the prime sponsor of attacks on Israel from Palestinian areas in the weeks since a war summit hosted by its sponsor, the government of Iran.

The Hizbullah has increased activities and recruitment in plans to attacks Israel. The group has claimed responsibility for attacks that are said to have been planned by its Iranian sponsors.

So far, a group called Hizbullah-Palestine has claimed responsibility for three bombings in Israel, Middle East Newsline reported. The latest was that of a bombing in the Israeli suburb of Petach Tikvah on Sunday. Five Israelis were injured in the attack.

Israeli sources said Hizbullah agents in Gaza have obtained weapons via Egypt or through the Israeli black market. They said Palestinians are trained in Lebanon and sent back to Gaza and the West Bank to form cells. Iranian agents provide orders to the Hizbullah in Gaza regarding how and when to launch attacks.

But U.S. officials said Hizbullah has had greater difficulty in obtaining weapons. The officials said Iran has been unable to fly weapons from Teheran through Turkish airspace since Ankara intercepted several Iranian jets bound for Damascus and believed loaded with weapons. The Los Angeles Times quoted U.S. officials as saying that Iranian weapons shipments arrive to Syria by land or sea.

On April 23, Iran hosted an international conference to support the Palestinian mini-war against Israel. About 35 Arab and Islamic nations participated in the meetings. But the Hizbullah delegation was the center of attention.

Hizbullah's next move against Israel was a focal point of the week.

Iranian leader Ali Khamenei was quoted as telling Hizbullah's chief Hassan Nasrallah to continue attacks against Israel. Iranian state television reported Khamenei said the Lebanese Shi'ite movement should take action along the Lebanese border with Israel and cooperate with Palestinian and Lebanese groups.

"Hizbullah should be vigilant and take the initiative in fighting against the Zionist regime," Iranian television said in a report on Khamenei's meeting.

Iranian sources said the talks centered on Hizbullah's plans to confront Israel in wake of a missile attack that killed an Israeli soldier along the Lebanese border earlier last month. Israel retaliated by destroying a Syrian radar station in Lebanon.

Israeli military sources said Iran has accelerated weapons shipments to Hizbullah. This has included deliveries of Katyusha rockets with a range of 70 kilometers.

The sources said Hizbullah has also launched cooperation with the Force 17 praetorian guard of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat. Hizbullah has trained Force 17 as well as supplied its members with mortars, rockets and missiles.

Tuesday, May 8, 2001

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