Al-Quida targeted Israeli Cruise Ship!

Report: al-Qaida aimed to bomb Israeli passenger ship

Jerusalem Post.com Staff Dec. 27, 2003


The Turkish al-Qaida cell that was responsible for twin suicide bombings
against two synagogues, the British consulate and the HSBC in Istanbul, had
planned to bomb an Israeli passenger ship which frequently sails between
Israel and Turkey.

Turkey's Milliyet newspaper reported Saturday that the Islamic terror group
had originally intended to hit an Israeli ship, but changed its targets when
the Israeli vessel deviated from its normal routine en route to dock at
Turkey's Mediterranean port of Alanya. No reasonw as given for the route
deviation.

Harun Ilhan, a Turkish terrorist linked to Osama bin Laden and now under
arrest, reportedly said that the group decided to strike the consulate only
at the last minute after the Israeli vessel failed to dock at Alanya. The
Cumhuriyet newspaper reported Friday that the target was a passenger ship.

Turkish Police arrests have dismantled the al-Qaida-linked cell believed to
have carried out the Istanbul bombings that killed 62 people last month, a
top official said yesterday, but added that several leading members were at
large abroad.

Harun Ilhan, who was arrested in the central Anatolian city of Konya,
reportedly admitted that a foreign cruise liner was among planned targets.
Ilhan was also taken to the site of Istanbul's Neve Shalom synagogue to help
police recreate what had happened. Ilhan admitted to being the number 2 man
in al-Qaida's Turkish cell, and told investigators that the attacks on the
synagogues were planned two years ago.

Turkey announced Friday that it had successfully dismantled Istanbul's
al-Qaida cell, having charged a total of 44 people in connection with
bombings in the city.

Turkish Minister for Internal Affairs Abdulkadir Aksu signed Thursday a
protocol with Minister of Internal Security Tzahi Hanegbi on cooperation on
internal security, the fight against terror, human and drug trafficking and
other problems.

During talks, Hanegbi also suggested training Turkish security forces to
respond to terror-related crimes and requested that Turkey mediate peace
talks between Israel and Syria.

The Turkey's newspaper Zaman reported that Israel asked Turkey to mediate
with Syria.

"It has been stated that Turkey and Syria are friends," Hanegbi said.
"Turkey is also our friend. Then, Turkey could act as a mediator between
Syria and Israel. This would bring home to Syria what the consequences of
supporting terrorism would be."

Aksu said tension and disagreeable incidents between Turkey and Syria were
in the past after the Agana Agreement was signed and expressed his pleasure
at Israeli's request for Turkey to act as mediator. "It is a heartwarming
message. We acknowledge the sincerity of this message."

Hanegbi's visit to Ankara follows that of his Turkish counterpart, who is
also responsible for emergency services.

"In spite of intelligence regarding possible al-Qaida attacks, the feeling
on the streets is that noone is changing their routine," Hanegbi told Israel
Radio Thursday afternoon.

"The Turks are a tough nation," he observed, "and nobody here would dream of
changing his way of life. The Jewish community enjoys close cooperation with
the police, and they feel absolutely at home."

The current agreement of principles updates a previous agreement from 1994
and focuses on the fight against terrorism. Cooperation between the two
nations recently reached new levels following the November bombing of two
synagogues in Istanbul. The Mossad had then warned Turkish authorities of
possible attacks, and helped collect and collate intelligence information in
the aftermath.

The two countries will also upgrade the level of cooperation on matters of
internal security. Subjects include international terrorism, arms smuggling,
illegal immigration and human and drugs trafficking.

The two countries will exchange information, intelligence and technology,
and carry out joint exercises of their respective coast guards. And Turkish
police will, for the first time, train with Israeli police.

On Thursday, Turkish authorities have found 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) of
explosives, prepared to be used in possible terrorist attacks, a news agency
reported.

The explosives, including the powerful military explosive RDX, were found
during searches conducted in three districts of Istanbul, the semiofficial
Anatolia agency said, citing unidentified sources.

Anatolia said the explosives were prepared to be used in possible attacks
but gave no details. The report did not say when the explosives were
discovered.

With AP

On Sat, 27 Dec 2003 20:01:34 GMT, "JJ"
wrote:

"It has been stated that Turkey and Syria are friends," Hanegbi said.
"Turkey is also our friend. Then, Turkey could act as a mediator between
Syria and Israel. This would bring home to Syria what the consequences of
supporting terrorism would be."

Here's the same quote from a Turkish newspaper.

"We were expecting Syria to act more openly and in a democratic manner
after the change in leadership. However, we were disappointed by the
Syrian approach to the Palestinian issue. It has been stated that
Turkey and Syria are friends. Turkey is also our friend. Then, Turkey
could act as a mediator between Syria and Israel. This would bring
home to Syria what the consequences of supporting terrorism would be."

Btw, is anyone other than Serbians paying attention to the Milosevic
circus?


The Not So Fine Art Of Google
http://makeashorterlink.com/?E29A321E6

JJ would you know the name of the passenger ship: I did not know that
Israel had a pasenger ship. I do recall that many years ago she did have
a ship plying the waters. It was named Shalom (Peace).

SUNNY........'s relatives sailed on her

S'nd I

Subject: Al-Quida targeted Israeli Cruise Ship!

Hi Sunny:

The only vessels I could find are Israeli casino ships.. those which depart on
4 hour gambling cruises in the evening.

All of Zim.. and their ships are gone.

Didn't check ferries... though.

Babette

Nope, sorry, i dont know the name of the ship. JJ
"villa deauville" wrote in message
...
JJ would you know the name of the passenger ship: I did not know that
Israel had a pasenger ship. I do recall that many years ago she did have
a ship plying the waters. It was named Shalom (Peace).

SUNNY........'s relatives sailed on her

S'nd I

Thanks Babette
I am sure Israel does not have any passenger ships per se. Perhaps as
you say they may have ferries but I dont see the need for that.

SUNNY........notices that all countries make their own spin on news

S'nd I

Originally the old Dolphin IV was build for the State of Israel. Not sure if
it was as a cruise ship or ocean liner.

Sunny,

One of the things I have tried to do over the years since my wife passed
away in 1980 is to take Danni to all of the places that Debbie and I saw
without her because she was too young.

Over the past few years we have dealt with the Panama Canal, and Curacao,
and Coronado Island.

The one remaining place that I want to show her is Israel. Debbie and I
were there in 1977, but we chose not to take 15 year old Danni out of
school.

Each year we look at the scheduled ports of call, and each year we decide to
wait until next year.

This doesn't make it any easier.
--
DG in Cherry Hill, NJ


"villa deauville" wrote in message
...
Thanks Babette
I am sure Israel does not have any passenger ships per se. Perhaps as
you say they may have ferries but I dont see the need for that.

SUNNY........notices that all countries make their own spin on news

S'nd I

The only passenger cruise ship liner that the State of
Israel ever had was the Shalom.If it was the Dolphin IV renamed the
Shalom that could be so.
Dick I won my trip to Israel, 10 days all expenses paid. I dont care
what colour, what faith, or no faith one has/has not it is a place of
tremendous wonder and awe

SUNNY.........wishes you all happy cruising

S'nd I.

Dick,
don't wait. i spent 6 weeks there during college, it was amazing. yes,
there were bombs at the bus station, yes they checked our bags before going
into a store but it was worth it.

my husband and I went a few months after the gulf war. if you go on a tour,
they know where to take you, where the hot spots are to avoid. the tourist
places, ie points of interest will be fine. just avoid the israeli
hangouts, ie clubs, pizza parlors etc.

i cannot wait to go back when our son is a bit older.

--
Sheree

"Dick Goldhaber" wrote in message
...
Sunny,

One of the things I have tried to do over the years since my wife passed
away in 1980 is to take Danni to all of the places that Debbie and I saw
without her because she was too young.

Over the past few years we have dealt with the Panama Canal, and Curacao,
and Coronado Island.

The one remaining place that I want to show her is Israel. Debbie and I
were there in 1977, but we chose not to take 15 year old Danni out of
school.

Each year we look at the scheduled ports of call, and each year we decide
to
wait until next year.

This doesn't make it any easier.
--
DG in Cherry Hill, NJ


"villa deauville" wrote in message
...
Thanks Babette
I am sure Israel does not have any passenger ships per se. Perhaps as
you say they may have ferries but I dont see the need for that.

SUNNY........notices that all countries make their own spin on news

S'nd I