Israel Warns U.N. Over Alleged Hizbullah Powerbase in West Africa

Israel's Ambassador to the U.N., Ron Prosor, has warned the Security Council that Hizbullah’s alleged powerbase in western Africa is growing, the Israeli Ynetnews website reported Wednesday.

"Israel is particularly concerned over Hizbullah's use of the area as a base of terror operations,” the site quoted Prosor as saying. “Criminal initiatives bolster Hizbullah's efforts to create sleeper-cells in the area.”

“The world can't stand idly by – this endangers more than just Africa but innocent lives the world over, as we have seen in New Delhi, Tbilisi and Bangkok," he told the Security Council on Tuesday.

Prosor was referring to bombings in India, Georgia and Thailand which Israel blamed on Iran in its effort to target the Jewish state’s diplomats.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also expressed concern over the growing ties between Hizbullah and local African crime organizations, Ynetnews said.

Last week, Prosor sent a letter to the Security Council and Ban asking for a condemnation of the attacks on the Israeli diplomats.

"We expect a sharp, clear condemnation, today, without any delay. The Security Council must take practical steps against Iran, Hizbullah and terrorist infrastructures that collaborate with them across the world,” he said.