Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Iran and Hezbollah trying to undermine renewed peace efforts

By Ze'ev Schiff



Iran and Hezbollah have intensified their efforts to operate in the territories and in Israel so as to undermine the possible renewal of the diplomatic process between Israel and the Palestinians by ensuring that no cease-fire agreement takes effect.

The two recently have focused on recruiting dozens of individuals from West Bank groups like Tanzim and Gaza Strip groups like the Popular Resistance Committee.

Israel has arrested 19 Palestinian activists recruited or controlled by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. In addition, security services have identified Hezbollah's smuggling weapons and other military equipment through tunnels connecting the Sinai to the Gaza Strip.

The General Security Services has followed for some time activities by Iran, and its proxy, Hezbollah, in the territories and Israel. The security services attribute 21 attacks in which 50 Israelis have been killed and 216 injured to Tanzim cells controled by Iran.

Following the death of PA chairman Yasser Arafat, Iranian and Hezbollah activities have intensified, and it is believed that the two have penetrated cells in the northern West Bank and in Bethlehem.

According to intelligence estimates, Iran and Hezbollah will concentrate their efforts in undermining any chance of renewing the peace process, and if a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians is achieved, they will seek to destroy it.

Reports of the possibility of renewed negotiations between Syria and Israel also have led Iran to prepare its own diplomatic initiative in Damascus to get clarifications from its occasional ally.

Iran is opposed to negotiations between Israel and Syria and the possibility that an interim agreement may result in Hezbollah's withdrawal from Lebanon's southern border with Israel.

Iran and Hezbollah also are focusing attention on intelligence gathering. Among equipment confiscated from one of the group's operatives was a GPS-equipped cellular telephone device that pinpoints the position of structures and locations for targeting. The device was delivered in Damascus to Haldoun Ruhi Barghouti of the northern West Bank village of Kubar.

Hezbollah agents worked with partial success on the development of a "bomber kite" capable of carrying several kilograms of explosives with which they planned to target a Gaza Strip settlement. The testing of the kite was halted when a number of cell members were arrested.

Intelligence information also suggests that Iran is passing over millions of dollars to Palestinians via Hezbollah contacts. Iran, in effect, is a replacement for former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who subsidized families of Palestinian suicide bombers or those injured in the fighting.

In the territories, the funding is being managed by various Islamic welfare organizations. Three brothers belonging to the Abdu family in Nablus were arrested for their role as money handlers on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah.

The local organization with which Iran has the closest affiliation is Islamic Jihad, while Hamas maintains a permanent representative in Iran. The larger Hamas wants to retain a degree of independence with Iran, but accepts financial and technical assistance from Tehran and its agents.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, is focusing its efforts on Tanzim. Several of the West Bank group's operatives have visited Lebanon and participated in training exercises there.

The Lebanese Shi'ite organization also is trying to foster ties with Israeli Arabs primarily via contacts abroad.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/509924.html