Shin Bet nabs Israeli-Arab Hamas cell

JPost ^ | 11-13-03 | MARGOT DUDKEVITCH

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Four Israeli Arabs from the North who studied in Jordan and were recruited by Hamas in Jordan and Saudi Arabia to perpetrate attacks in Israel were arrested by the Shin Bet and Israel Police.

Details released for publication on Thursday, revealed attempts by Hamas officials abroad to recruit Israel Arab students studying in Jordan to their ranks, train them in weapons, explosives and other tactics.

The suspects were recruited in Saudi Arabia while on pilgrimage to Mecca and asked to compile intelligence information regarding bus routes, locations of bus station and details of which areas were guarded.

The four were indicted in August at the Haifa Magistrates court on charges of assisting the enemy during war and supporting a terrorist organization.

Security officials said the four were in the midst of advanced training stages, plotting and recruiting others to the cause when they were arrested. Their arrests prevented them from implementing the plans and perpetrating the attacks.

Officials noted that it is not the first time that terrorist organizations overseas take advantage of Israeli Arabs visiting Mecca to pray and recruit them to perpetrate attacks.

In March this year three Israel Arab residents of Kafra Manda, all in their twenties, were arrested by security forces for planning to perpetrate attacks in the north of the country on behalf of the Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip. One of the three met with operatives in Mecca in Saudi Arabia and was instructed to establish a cell of Israeli Arabs to perpetrate attacks in Israel.

On July 9, security officials arrested Khadir Shalatah, 25, a resident of Sachnin and a masters degree history student who admitted to joining the Hamas in 2001 while studying in Jordan.

Shalatah told investigators that in 2002 he traveled to Saudi Arabia on a pilgrimage to Mecca and met with a Hamas operative who instructed him in certain aspects of training and informed him he would undergo military training on returning to Jordan.

In January this year, Shalatah underwent military training and was instructed in the use of weapons, explosives, how to fabricate cover stories, how to behave if captured and interrogated and how to transfer coded messages on behalf of the Hamas in Jordan to operatives in the Territories. He was instructed to compile intelligence information on bus routes and bus stops, details regarding entrances to malls and security guards. Shalatah also attempted to recruit other Israeli Arabs to Hamas.

On July 16, security officials arrested Amin Hassan, 24 of Mishab who studied social work in Jordan between 1998 to 2001. Hassan also met with the same Hamas officials in Saudi Arabia in 2001 while making a pilgrimage to Mecca and was instructed on security issues and operational behavior. He was due to have left Jordan for Turkey to undergo military training and admitted to investigators in compiling intelligence information on public places in Haifa and Tel Aviv.

Three days later, on July 19, security officials arrested Rami Hiadrah,21 of Sachnin who studied pharmacology in Jordan and admitted to agreeing to Shalatah's offer to join the Hamas and travel to Saudi Arabia and meet with Hamas operatives there.

On July 22, security officials arrested Malek Zuabi, 22, a resident of Nazareth Illit who studied Islamic Studies in Jordan admitted to being acquainted with members of the Moslem Brotherhood in Jordan among them university lecturers who advised him to join the Hamas and perpetrate attacks against Israel.

Zuabi also confessed to having met Mahmoud Al Aisi a senior Al Qaida official and was to have met with him in Saudi Arabia. Zuabi smuggled into Israel discs containing inciting material including support for Al Qaida and Osama bin Laden. Zuabi was a staunch supporter of the Islamic Movement in the north under the leadership of Sheikh Ra'ad Salah.

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Four Israeli Arabs from the North who studied in Jordan and were recruited by Hamas in Jordan and Saudi Arabia to perpetrate attacks in Israel were arrested by the Shin Bet and Israel Police.

Details released for publication on Thursday, revealed attempts by Hamas officials abroad to recruit Israel Arab students studying in Jordan to their ranks, train them in weapons, explosives and other tactics.

The suspects were recruited in Saudi Arabia while on pilgrimage to Mecca and asked to compile intelligence information regarding bus routes, locations of bus station and details of which areas were guarded.

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