Vessel enters Israel's territorial waters

Navy ships intercept boat that came through Lebanon; Russians on board: We're heading to Egypt


Navy ships were dispatched Tuesday evening to Israel's northern maritime border after a vessel entered Israel's territorial waters from Lebanon's direction.

IDF forces contacted the boat, which carried Russian-speaking citizens who told authorities they were sailing to Egypt. Navy ships proceeded to escort the vessel into the Haifa Port, where those on board were handed over to police.

Authorities believe that the group on board the boat entered Israel innocently and is therefore expected to be released soon.


The northern maritime border had been used in the past in order to carry out terror attacks against Israel. In March of 1978, a Palestinian terror cell that departed from Lebanon reached Israel via the sea and landed on shore south of Kibbutz Maagan Michael. The terrorists later commandeered a bus on the Tel Aviv-Haifa Highway, an attack that left 35 Israelis dead, including whole families, and more than 70 people wounded.

Following that attack, Israel launched the Litani Operation against Palestinian terror groups in southern Lebanon.