Britannia Radio

Israel warns citizens to leave Sinai

and note debka report at end.

http://jta.org/news/article/2009/08/11/1007177/israel-warns-citizens-to-leave-sinai

August 11, 2009

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel warned its citizens to leave the Sinai Peninsula.

The Counter-Terrorism Bureau in the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday also warned Israelis to cancel travel to Jordan.

The warnings are for now as well as the High Holidays in September, when many Israelis travel to Red Sea resorts and other regional destinations. The bureau is concerned that Hezbollah will try to kidnap Israelis visiting the Sinai, or traveling anywhere in the world, in retaliation for the February 2008 assassination of security chief Imad Mughniyeh, which it blames on Israel.

Israel has peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan.

Tuesday's advisory also warned of a "very serious concrete threat" in Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Yemen and Afghanistan.

The bureau warned against travel to Kenya and Morocco.

Countries considered a "serious concrete threat" include Algeria, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan.

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Top Hamas delegation from Gaza on surprise visit to Cairo Saturday

DEBKAfile Special report

August 8, 2009, 8:29 PM (GMT+02:00)

DEBKAfile reports the Hamas delegation headed by Dr. Mahmoud a-Zahar exited Gaza through the Rafah crossing Saturday Aug. 8. Egyptian intelligence officers escorted them on their journey to Cairo for urgent consultations on an undisclosed subject. The Hamas leaders may proceed next to Damascus to confer with politburo chief Khaled Meshaal.

Friday, prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his security cabinet of six ministers were briefed on Middle East developments at a special session. DEBKAfile's military sources report that an unusually variety of security officials attended the meeting.

They included the chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Gaby Ashkenazi, military intelligence chief Brig. Amos Yadlin, Mossad director Meir Dagan, Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin, OC Southern Command Brig. Yoav Galant and several more senior officers.