[Marxism] Netanyahu Changed Plans Due to Warning

[Brian Shannon <Brian_Shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

[This seems a little stronger than earlier reports]

Netanyahu Changed Plans Due to Warning

By AMY TEIBEL, Associated Press Writer Thu Jul 7, 7:14 AM ET

JERUSALEM - British police told the Israeli Embassy in London minutes
before Thursday's explosions that they had received warnings of
possible terror attacks in the city, a senior Israeli official said.

Benjamin Netanyahu had planned to attend an economic conference in a
hotel over the subway stop where one of the blasts occurred, and the
warning prompted him to stay in his hotel room instead, government
officials said.

Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said he wasn't aware of any Israeli
casualties.

Just before the blasts, Scotland Yard called the security officer at
the Israeli Embassy to say they had received warnings of possible
attacks, the official said. He did not say whether British police made
any link to the economic conference. The official spoke on condition of
anonymity because of the nature of his position.

The Israeli Embassy was in a state of emergency after the explosions in
London, with no one allowed to enter or leave, said the Israeli
ambassador to London, Zvi Hefet. All phone lines to the embassy were
down, said Danny Biran, an Israeli Foreign Ministry official. The
ministry set up a situation room to deal with hundreds of phone calls
from concerned relatives. Thousands of Israelis are living in London or
visiting the city at this time, Biran said.

Amir Gilad, a Netanyahu aide, told Israel Radio that Netanyahu's
entourage was receiving updates all morning from British security
officials, and "we have also asked to change our plans."

Netanyahu had been scheduled to stay in London until Sunday, but that
could change, Gilad said.


from Brian Shannon


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