Arab caught trying to establish ISIS cell in Israel

The Shin Bet arrested an Israeli Arab who operated for ISIS within Israel. 

Israel’s combined security forces arrested in January Anas Haj Yehiye, 35, an Israeli-Arab citizen and resident of Taibe, on suspicion of operating on behalf of the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group, the Shin Bet (Israel’s Security Agency) announced Monday.

He was arrested following the collection of intelligence information that indicated he was working to advance terrorist activities within the State of Israel.

During his questioning by the Shin Bet it became apparent that Haj Yehiye had been in contact with ISIS operatives and had shared with them materials and knowledge regarding the production of explosives.

He swore allegiance to ISIS’ leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and had also considered traveling to Syria to join in the fighting alongside ISIS.

The Shin Bet’s investigation further revealed that Haj Yehiye had planned to form an ISIS terror cell which would carry out terror attacks in Israel and had attempted to recruit others to join him.

Haj Yehiye was asked to carry out an attack on a bus in Tel Aviv against IDF soldiers, but the plans were never executed.

Plans to Build Bombs and Produce Sarin Gas

It was also revealed that Haj Yehiye had been a member of an online group in which other ISIS operatives were members.  He distributed among group members materials on the production and construction of explosive belts and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) connected to cellphones, and training videos on how to add poison to the explosive devices.

He also distributed instructions on the preparation of highly lethal substances, including sarin gas.

Photographs of military materials and IEDs, as well as ISIS’ “Detailed Guide for the Jihadist,” were found in a search of his home

The State Attorney’s Office on Monday filed an indictment against Haj Yehiye in the Central District Court.

The Shin Bet views “Islamic State supporters in Israel as a severe security threat, and will use all counter-terrorist and preventive means at its disposal against those involved to the fullest extent of the law,” the Shin Bet stated.

Over the past years, Israeli security forces have exposed several ISIS terror cells operating in Israel, comprised mostly of Arabs with Israeli citizenship. In total, tens of suspects have been arrested.

Israel estimates that at least 50 Israeli Arabs have joined ISIS in Syria and Iraq over the past two years. At least ten of them have been arrested upon their return to the country and a few others have been killed in action while fighting with ISIS.

Israel fears that Arabs returning to Israel from fighting with ISIS will use their experience to establish terror networks and launch attacks within Israel, or that Arabs in Israel will be inspired by ISIS, and especially via social media, and will operate against the Jewish state and its citizens.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

ISISIslamic terrorIsraeli ArabsShin Bet