Group claims it killed Israeli soldier

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JERUSALEM, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- The extremist group Ansar Beit al-Maqdes says it was responsible for an attack on the Israel-Egypt border in which an Israeli soldier was killed.

The al-Qaida-linked group said the Friday attack, in which Israeli Cpl. Netanel Yahalomi and three attackers died, was meant "to punish all those who insult" Islam's Prophet Muhammad and blamed Jews for being involved in the production of the video "Innocence if Muslims," which has sparked violence in the Muslim world for its defamatory portrayal of the founder of Islam. The obscure video was made in the United States, allegedly by a Coptic Christian from Egypt.

In a statement posted on the Internet, the group said "after finding out that Jews were involved in this matter [film], are motivating the hostile group of foreign pigs [a reference to Coptic Christians in the United States], took part in the film's production and encouraged this shameful crime, and because protecting the prophet's honor is one of our duties, your brothers from the Ansar Beit al-Maqdes organization decided to punish the Jews for their heinous crimes."

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu extended his condolences to the Yahalomi family during a Cabinet meeting Sunday.

"A terror attack which could have been very deadly was thwarted," he said, adding the incident "underscores the importance of constructing a border fence. Without a fence there will be more terror attacks."