Several members of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network have infiltrated the Gaza Strip and Lebanon and are working with Hizbullah to target Israel, Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Thursday. "We have information for some time now that al-Qaeda people have entered," he said at a news conference.
"The information says that a small number entered the Gaza Strip. We know they are in Lebanon in close cooperation with Hizbullah. We know they are in the region. There's no doubt that Israel is a target for an attack."
Israel's army chief, Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, warned earlier this week that bin Laden is sending instructions to Palestinian activists in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He spoke after the twin attacks on Israeli targets in Kenya last week were linked to al-Qaeda or its affiliates.
Meanwhile, a statement published on the Arabic forum www.mojahedoon.net has announced the creation of "The Islamic Al-Qaeda Organization in Palestine" to "serve as a powerful basis for restoring the rights of our Arab and Islamic people in Palestine, and will defeat the Zionist Jewish invaders." (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
