Ingrid Betancourt and Mossad?

Yesterday’s Jerusalem Post reports:

Ingrid Betancourt, in captivity

The Mossad secret service was involved in the operation to free hostage Ingrid Betancourt from Colombian rebels, AFP quoted a Spanish newspaper as reporting on Sunday.

According to the report, American and French secret services were also involved.

“Mossad, the US, and French intelligence services worked for more than a year with the Colombian authorities to develop the plan,” the story run by Vanguardia claimed, citing an Israeli secret service source.

The Jerusalem Post could not corroborate Vanguardia’s report.

Colombian armed forces freed Franco-Colombian politician Betancourt, three US nationals and 11 Colombian soldiers from the jungle on July 2, where they were being held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

While Betancourt’s statements to the media immediately after her release acknowledged Israel’s “experience” in similar situations, she did not unequivocally admit that Israel was involved in her release. Israel has never officially confirmed as much.

According to Vanguardia, Israel, France and the US participated in the operation for different reasons: France because of Betancourt’s half-French nationality, the US because of the three Americans in the group and Israel in order to maintain good bilateral relations with Colombia and the US.

Vanguardia’s Tel Aviv correspondent said the Mossad operation consisted of two agents unknown to each other separately infiltrating FARC.

The pair managed to penetrate the Marxist guerrilla group so effectively that they ultimately controlled what FARC did or didn’t know, the Catalan newspaper said.

The Israeli and US secret services used unmanned spy drones to locate the camp where the hostage were held, the Vanguardia said.

I doubt that Israel will bother verifying this report, though I find it very plausible. It makes sense politically, it makes sense strategically. Israel needs allies in Latin America, especially allies that next door neighbors to that Venezuelan piece of Devil’s excreta - Hugo Chávez. Why? Chávez has allowed Hizbullah to operate from its territory. He is an annoying sty in the eye of the US and he represents a danger to Latin American stability.

If the story is a true one it also represents a warning to Hizbullah and especially to their master, the putrid little maggot from Iran - Ahmadinejad. Israel has just shown by this action that its long arm can reach anywhere. No wonder Chávez was so stunned when Ms. Betancourt was freed, he hadn’t realized Israel’s Mossad was playing on his turf! Working together with the US and France certainly didn’t hurt…

Chaim

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