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Deliberate attack on Chabad centre: Israel

DUBAI: Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has vowed to support Indian authorities in the investigations on the Mumbai terror attacks. Mr. Olmert said on Sunday Israel “would be happy to provide any and all information or specific assistance that we might be asked to give.”

On Sunday, an Israeli Air Force plane left for Mumbai with teams of medical and forensic experts.

The Israeli establishment and the media have been making two additional points on the Mumbai attacks in which nine Jewish inmates at the Nariman House were killed.

First, they point out that terrorists deliberately, and after advance planning, targeted Chabad centre— the name of the Jewish establishment. Second, the Indian intelligence establishment had failed in its duty to avert the tragedy.

At a press conference in Jerusalem, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said: “There is no doubt, we know, that the targets the terrorists singled out were Jewish, Israeli targets and targets identified with the West, Americans and Britons.”

Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S., Sallai Meridor, also echoed the line. In a statement, he said Israel was “shocked and saddened by the intentional and brutal terrorist attack on the Chabad centre at Mumbai.”

Mr. Olmert said” “The hatred of Jews, the State of Israel and Jewish symbols are still a factor that spurs and encourages such murderous acts.”

He said pictures of murdered victims wrapped in prayer shawls “are shocking and take us back to events that we pray never recur.”

Several articles have appeared in the Israeli media criticising the Indian intelligence community and questioning the tactics adopted by the commandos during their raid on Chabad centre.

“Brave police officers, including the Mumbai counter terror chief, died trying to stop the attack. When the dust settles, higher-ups in Indian intelligence will have a lot of explaining to do,” said a piece in the daily Haaretz.

However, a serving Indian officer, who did not wish to be named, told The Hindu that after the December 1999 hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar, which was followed by lengthy negotiations, New Delhi is not inclined to hold a dialogue with terrorists even in hostage-type situations.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed the deaths of nine people, including Israelis, Americans or Jewish individuals holding a dual nationality.

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