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Israel-related animal conspiracy theories

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The Mossad shark and Zionist vulture are two conspiracy theories involving animals and Israel. These and other conspiracy theories have been circulating in Arab and Muslim media and Arabic language websites.[1][2] In December 2010, shark attacks in Egypt were attributed to a shark released by the Mossad.[3][4][5] In January 2011, Saudi Arabian authorities arrested what they described as a "Zionist" vulture and charged the bird with spying for Israel.

The Wall Street Journal's Bret Stephens pointed to the Mossad shark and other Arab conspiracy theories as an example of "the debasement of the Arab mind."[2] Gil Yaron from Star-News said that "The Saudi accusation may seem paranoid, but fear of Mossad and its penchant for high-tech methods is a staple of Arab coverage of Israel."[1]

Mossad shark

An oceanic whitetip shark, one of the two species implicated in the attacks

In December 2010, the governor of South Sinai, Mohammad Abdul Fadhil Shousha, attributed Sharm el-Sheikh shark attacks to "Jews not jaws".[6] The governor also noted: "What is being said about the Mossad throwing the deadly shark in the sea to hit tourism in Egypt is not out of the question. But it needs time to confirm."[7]

This conspiracy theory started to evolve with an interview that Captain Mustafa Ismail, introduced as "a famous diver in Sharm El Sheikh", gave on TV program Egypt Today. In the interview Ismail claimed that there are no oceanic whitetip sharks in the Red Sea off Egypt. When asked how the sharks got there, Ismail responded: "no, it's who let them in?" He went on to describe his phone conversation with an Israeli diver who told him that they captured an oceanic whitetip off Eilat, an Israeli town also on the Red Sea coast. Ismail became suspicious when the Israeli told him the shark they captured had a GPS navigation device. Although this is a common method of monitoring shark migrations, Ismail offered his own theory of using GPS device on sharks: "the sharks were monitored to attack in Egypt's waters only".[8]

Zionist vulture

A vulture similar to this one was arrested in Saudi Arabia and accused in spying for Israel

A griffon vulture with a wingspan of about 8 feet (2.4 m) was seen flying in Saudi Arabia, near the home of a shaikh, near the city of Hayel. When the bird was captured, a GPS device and a leg tag with the sign "Tel Aviv University" were discovered on the bird. The authorities were alerted that the vulture was a part of "Zionist plot". The story was first reported in Saudi Arabia's newspaper Al-Weeam, and was later discussed in Arabic websites and other Saudi Arabia media outlets.[4][5][1]

Israeli officials described the accusation as "ludicrous" and said they were "stunned" and were concerned that the bird could meet a severe punishment in the Saudi justice system. [5]

In an interview given to Israeli daily, Ma'ariv, an Israeli bird specialist explained that Israeli scientists are using GPS devices to determine the migration routes of the birds. In the interview, he expressed the hope that the bird would be released.[5]

Other accusations

Israel has also been accused of sending a spy pelican and a spy vulture to Sudan. The birds, wearing a GPS device and a tag with the sign "Tel Aviv University," were captured by local officials. Sudanese authorities refused to return the GPS transmitters, and the birds were accused of espionage for Israel.[2][9]

In October of 2008 Iran arrested two pigeons, who showed unusual interest in Iran's nuclear facility in Natanz. In 2007, Iranian media reported that 14 squirrels were caught spying for the West, and that they were arrested right before they were able to cause real damage.[1]

Israel has also been accused in releasing lethal jellyfish in the waters off Sinai.[3]

Most recently, during latest intifada, Wafa, also known as the Palestine News Agency, issued reports of rats as big as dogs and wild boars that were allegedly released in East Jerusalem by Israel in order to make Palestinians to flee so that Jews could take their homes. The report read: "Rats have become an Israeli weapon to displace and expel Arab residents of the occupied Old City of Jerusalem. Settlers flood the Old City of Jerusalem with rats.[10]"[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Gil Yaron (2011-01-05). "Secret agent vulture tale just the latest in animal plots". Star-News.
  2. ^ a b c Jackson Diehl (2011-01-05). "Israel's Spying Vulture -- and Killer Shark". Washington Post.
  3. ^ a b Keith Thomson (2011-01-05). "Could Vulture Captured in Saudi Arabia Have Been Sent by Mossad?". The Huffington Post.
  4. ^ a b Haaretz Service (2011-01-04). "Saudi Arabia 'nabbed Israeli-tagged vulture for being Mossad spy'". haaretz.
  5. ^ a b c d "Saudi Arabia 'detains' Israeli vulture for spying". BBC. 2011-01-05.
  6. ^ "Egyptian Shark Attack: Jews Not Jaws?". honest reporting. 2010.
  7. ^ Nasser Nasser (December 8, 2010). "Conspiracy Theories With a Bite". newsweek.
  8. ^ Yasmine Fathi (December 6,2010). "Expert shoots down conspiracy theory blaming Israel for shark attacks". Ahram. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Julie Stahl (2011-01-05). "Saudi Arabia Busts 'Israeli Spy' Vulture". CBN News.
  10. ^ Khaled Abu Toameh (2010-12-14). "What is Responsible for Miseries of the Arabs?". Hudson New York.
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