Photo: Gabi Ashkenazi, chief of staff of the Israeli army. Photo from Times OnlineIsraeli Accused Of Hezbollah Plot To Assassinate The Israeli Chief of Staff -- BBC
An Arab man, who belonged to the same Tel Aviv health club as the Israeli armed forces chief, has been accused of assisting in a plot to assassinate him.
Prosecutors say Rawi Sultani told Hezbollah about Lt Gen Gabi Ashkenazi, as it sought to avenge the killing of its military commander Imad Mughniyeh.
Mr Sultani admits talking to people who may have been in the Lebanese militant group, but denies any role in a plot.
About one fifth of Israel's population are Arabs of Palestinian descent.
Israeli Arabs frequently claim their community is subject to political persecution, while Israeli Jews often voice suspicion about the loyalty of the Arab minority to the Israeli state.
Read more ....
More News On This Assassination Plot
Plot to kill Israel’s army chief of staff -- Times Online
Analysis: Assassinating Ashkenazi would likely have led to war -- Jerusalem Post
Israeli Arab charged with giving Hezbollah info on IDF chief -- Haaretz
Hezbollah spy / Still seeking to avenge Mughniyeh's murder -- Haaretz
Israeli-Arab charged over plot to kill top general -- ABC News (Australia)
Out of shape: Revelation of ‘gym plot’ against army chief highlights bodyguard problem -- Ynet News opinion
My Comment: I missed this story this week. I only learned about it when I read a news summary from the Small Wars Journal. If this assassination attempt was successful, it would have plunged Israel/Lebanon into another war that would have matched the 1982 conflict.
What is the most troubling aspect of this plot, is that for it to go forward it had to receive support from Iran .... a major escalation in the continuous "underground" war between Israel and Iran.
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