Egypt Angry at Hizbullah for Attempting to Smuggle Weapons to Palestinians in Gaza Through Sinai

Egypt: Hizbullah agents targeted Israeli tourists in Sinai

Date: 13 / 04 / 2009 Time: 09:26
Bethlehem - Ma'an/Agencies -

Egypt claimed on Sunday that Hizbullah agents were planning attacks on Israeli tourists in the Sinai, according to news reports.

Both Egyptian and Israeli officials said Sunday that the alleged cell of 49 men arrested in Egypt earlier this week had links to Hizbullah and were planning attacks aimed at destabilizing Egypt.

Meanwhile, Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrullah on Saturday denied accusations his movement intended to attack Egypt, but announced that at least one member had been dispatched to Egypt.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak reportedly phoned Lebanon's prime minister on Sunday, telling him that Egypt "will not allow anyone to violate its borders or destabilize the country," according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

The same day, Egyptian Cabinet minister Mufeed Shehab claimed that Egyptian government has seized explosive belts and other bomb-making materials from alleged Hizbullah operatives, accusing them of planning to "bring weapons and ammunition from Yemen, Sudan and Somalia and smuggle them into the country" by boat, Haaretz reported.

Agents were reportedly "observing and locating the [Israeli] tourist groups who repeatedly come to south Sinai resorts and residences paving the way to target them in hostile activities," Shehab told Egyptian parliamentarians on Sunday.

Hamas: Rhetoric against Hizbullah disparages resistance

Date: 13 / 04 / 2009 Time: 13:59
Gaza – Ma’an –

The Hamas movement on Monday condemned "these fake allegations" that Hizbullah is operating in Egypt, according to a statement sent to Ma'an.

The statement went on to declare Hamas' solidarity with Hizbullah, and to express distress at the increasing rhetoric against the group's secretary-general, Hassan Nasrullah.

Hamas also said that "supporting resistance is not a charge at all, and such action should not be condemned, since it is an honor for [Hizbullah]," the statement said.

Egypt claimed on Sunday that Hizbullah agents were planning attacks on Israeli tourists in the Sinai, according to news reports.

Both Egyptian and Israeli officials said Sunday that the alleged cell of 49 men arrested in Egypt earlier this week had links to Hizbullah and were planning attacks aimed at destabilizing Egypt.

Meanwhile, Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrullah on Saturday denied accusations his movement intended to attack Egypt, but announced that at least one member had been dispatched to Egypt.

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