"The suspect, who was arrested in Limassol port on July 7, was described by Cypriot media as a Swedish passport-holder of Lebanese descent."
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel accused Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas and Iran on Sunday of plotting to attack its citizens in Cyprus after police on the Mediterranean island arrested a foreigner on suspicion of security offences.
The suspect, who was arrested in Limassol port on July 7, was described by Cypriot media as a Swedish passport-holder of Lebanese descent.
He was detained after tracking the movement Of Israeli tourists on the island, according to some reports, but has not been charged with any crime.
In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident "the attempted terrorist attack by Hezbollah against an Israeli target in Cyprus". He accused the Shi'ite guerrilla group's sponsor, Iran, of overall responsibility.
Israeli diplomats have been targeted in several countries in recent months by bombers who Israel said struck on behalf of Iran.
Though Tehran has denied involvement, some analysts believe it is trying to avenge the assassinations of several scientists from its controversial nuclear programme, which the Iranians have blamed on Israel and its Western allies.
"This terror is conducted under Iran's auspices. It is part of the Iranian plan," Netanyahu said in the statement.
Hezbollah has its own scores to settle with the Jewish state. Two years after their 2006 border war, the Lebanese militia lost its commander to a Damascus car bomb it said was the work of Israeli spies, and vowed revenge.
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