Author: Vijay Dutt
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: May 7, 2003
Many Muslims in Britain are perturbed
by media reports that Israeli secret agents are to step up operations in
the country to counter the threat of terror. The Israelis believe Islamic
fanatics are being allowed to operate with impunity from London, in particular.
Mossad is expected to shortly start
trailing militants and monitoring radical groups, said a report in a daily.
Other sources said that the latest Israeli move would mean a record number
of anti-terror agents on the streets of London to monitor extremists and
their movements.
But Muslims fear that Mossad agents,
known to have carried out high-profile abductions on foreign soils, could
trouble even the innocent. It is said the first step by the Israeli agents
would be to start a covert recruitment programme in the community.
The fact is that Britain's record
in dealing with and curbing fundamentalist activities by clerics and radical
groups well set in various cities has been poor. Some foreign countries
have often referred to London as "Londonistan" or Kabul because of the
ease with which terrorists have lived here and radical groups and clerics
have recruited young Muslims for "jehad".
France, Russia and India have repeatedly
complained to Britain that fundamentalists have set up centres for fomenting
hate and collection of funds for exporting terror to Kashmir, Paris and
Chechnya.
Some British intelligence officials
are reportedly unhappy at the reported Israeli move.
