Hizbullah Reportedly Wants Palestinians to Avenge Mughniyeh
Hizbullah has reportedly tasked Palestinian militants to avenge the assassination of top Hizbullah commander Imad Mughniyeh over fears that a Hizbullah-led operation would trigger a massive Israeli reprisal against Lebanon.
The Jerusalem Post quoted Israeli officials as saying that tens of thousands of dollars had been paid to "Palestinian terrorist groups" so that they could carry out large attacks against Israel and Israeli interests.
The daily said possible attacks could include the capturing of Israeli soldiers – the very same action that triggered the 2006 summer war.
Commenting on the report, retired Lebanese army Brig. Gen. Amin Hoteit told The Daily Star that Hizbullah didn”t need to use Palestinian groups to enact vengeance, noting that the Palestinians had enough trouble with the Israelis and that this kind of operation would only add to their problems.
"Hizbullah has multiple choices to (fulfill) its goals in Palestine or outside of Palestine," Hoteit said. "The people who will do the vengeance don”t need to be Lebanese, Palestinian, or even Muslim."
Hizbullah has firmly placed the responsibility on Israel and "vengeance will be sure," he said, adding that "no one can know what Hizbullah will do."
Mughniyeh was killed in a car bombing in Syria last February.
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has repeatedly vowed repeatedly that the group would retaliate for Mughniyeh”s assassination.