Shorts: Mideast

Israel talks tough after border clash

jerusalem (jta) | Israel blamed Syria and Iran for a fierce clash with Hezbollah militiamen on its northern border.

"It is absolutely clear to us that Syria and the Iranians stand behind this Hezbollah operation," Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said referring to raids on Monday, Nov. 21 in which four militiamen were killed and 11 Israeli troops wounded.

Lebanese officials said Hezbollah had tried and failed to kidnap Israeli soldiers in order to swap them for Arab prisoners held in Israel. Mofaz said Syria, under mounting international scrutiny, approved the operation as a distraction. Hezbollah is also backed by Iran.

Israel shelled southern Lebanon in retaliation but ceased fire after U.N. peacekeepers conveyed an appeal from Beirut, Israel's military chief of staff said. "This is the first time that the Lebanese government, albeit indirectly ... has requested that the state of Israel cease fire," Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz said.

In related news, an Israeli army sniper was credited with killing four Hezbollah militiamen in the clash. Cpl. David Markovitch fired at a Hezbollah rocket crew that stormed into the Israeli border town of Ghajar, killing three of the gunmen when their ordnance exploded and then shooting the fourth seconds later.

Speaking to Israel Radio, the conscript described his success as a combination of professionalism and luck. "We worked together, everyone doing his job," he said. "As it happened, they were caught up in the thick of things, but it was a miracle that they did not see us first. The entire thing happened in a matter of seconds." More than 20 militiamen took part in the attack on Ghajar in a failed bid to kidnap soldiers. Israeli officials said some of the fighting was from a range of less than 50 feet.




Israeli Arab may switch soccer teams

jerusalem (jta) | A famous Israeli Arab soccer player may join an Israeli soccer team known for its anti-Arab fans.

Betar Jerusalem reportedly is making a bid to sign Abbas Suan from Bnei Sakhnin.

Suan made international headlines after he scored a big goal for Israel's national team in a World Cup qualifying game earlier this year, and his achievement helped raise the national and even international profile of Sakhnin's team. When Betar Jerusalem played Bnei Sakhnin days after the goal, however, fans greeted Suan with slogans such as "Suan: You don't represent us."




Police nab imposter kosher marshmallows

jerusalem (jps) | Just days before the Palestinian Authority was set to assume control of Gaza's border with Egypt, Israeli border guards on the lookout for smuggled weapons discovered a different kind of banned goods in a truck attempting to infiltrate the Jewish state: fraudulent kosher chocolate marshmallows.

The truck had tried to enter Israel through the Karni Crossing from Gaza, and was stopped during a routine check of vehicles passing through the busy checkpoint. Upon examination, soldiers found boxes of "Krembos," a popular snack in Israel of round chocolate shells filled with flavored marshmallow cream on a biscuit, displaying forged kosher seals.