Israel Steps Up Security Abroad, Fearing Reprisals

Security for Israeli diplomatic staff abroad has been stepped up amid fears of reprisals for the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin by Islamist groups sympathetic to Hamas.

The move came as Israel was put on a high state of alert until at least the end of the month. Police leave has been cancelled and army units have been reinforced.

Security for politicians is being increased, including provision of extra bodyguards.

The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed that its embassies had been put on a higher alert but declined to give details. Israeli embassies are already well protected, but diplomats have been warned to be more careful when they leave their embassies and residences and to think twice about the places they plan to visit and the routes they choose.

A ministry spokesman said the alert also involved greater communication with local police and security services. The New York police department on Monday increased patrols at synagogues and other Jewish locations.

Israel has suffered many attacks abroad, including the destruction of its embassy in Buenos Aires in 1992 and an attack on its ambassador in London a decade earlier, in which he was shot in the head.

At the security cabinet meeting on Sunday when the decision was made to kill Sheikh Yassin, Avi Dichter, head of Shin Bet, the intelligence organisation, said he expected a reaction. He argued that if there were costs to Israel, the attack should be made more worthwhile by postponing it until the whole Hamas leadership could be killed together, rather than just Sheikh Yassin.

The defence minister, Shaul Mofaz, argued in favour of an immediate attack.

In a detailed account of the cabinet discussion in the Hebrew daily Maariv, Mr Dichter expressed concern about revenge attacks: "They will start with terror attacks overseas against Israelis. So they will turn into al-Qaida. They will be in the whole world's sights."

His warning reflects a fear in the Israeli government that targets abroad are softer than in Israel. Security is always tight in Israel and there is an assumption that Hamas is probably not capable of mounting attacks on it that would be any worse than those that have gone before.

An Israeli academic specialising in Islamist groups, Reuven Pas, said the killing would lead to attacks on Israelis and Jews abroad.

He told the Jerusalem Post: "We are talking about Muslims in Europe and the United States who identify with Hamas and its policies and recruit funds on its behalf."

Mr Pas, director of research into Islamist movements at the Interdisciplinary Institute of Herzliya, added: "I believe that the same Hamas supporters abroad will also begin to recruit activists to wage attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets abroad, and we could possibly see elements af filiated with al-Qaida recruiting activists on behalf of Hamas."

Within Israel, police presence has been increased on the streets and along main roads.

The Knesset, the Israeli parliament, said that security for its members, including the cabinet, is to be beefed up, including extra bodyguards.

Two battalions of the Israel army have been recalled from training to reinforce the forces in the West Bank, and more forces are also being recalled along Israel's northern border.

In Jerusalem, many people continued to stay at home and to avoid taking buses.