Israel arrests Jewish convert to Islam for ties to ISIS

An Israeli Jew, who converted to Islam, was arrested on suspicion he tried to join ISIS.

The Shin Bet (Israel’s Security Agency) announced Wednesday that it arrested Valentin Vladimir Mazalevsky, an Israeli Jew who converted to Islam, on suspicion he planned to join the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria.

Mazalevsky, 40 and a father of five, was arrested in February following intelligence information that indicated he was trying to travel to Syria to join the fighting as an ISIS member. He purchased a one-way ticket to Turkey, from where he planned to cross into Syria.

Mazalevsky was also active in an online ISIS group, who coordinated his trip to Syria.

The suspect, who lives in the Arab town of Shibli in northern Israel, immigrated to Israel from Belarus in 1996 and converted to Islam in 2000, during his military service in the IDF, after having met his wife, a resident of Shibli.

The Shin Bet stated that it, “views the departure of Israelis to Syria and Iraq as a very dangerous phenomenon. Islamic State disseminates deceptive photographs to the effect that a good and respectable life is possible under its rule and that those who join the fighting will enjoy a religious and military adventure. However, the investigations of Israelis who have returned from Syria and Iraq show the opposite–harsh conditions under constant threat.”

The Shin Bet further stated it “views Islamic State supporters in Israel as a severe security threat and will continue to use all counter-terrorist and preventive means at its disposal.”

The Shin Bet, “will deal with those involved to the fullest extent of the law,” it concluded.

The State Attorney’s Office on Wednesday filed a severe indictment against Mazalevsky in the Nazareth District Court.

In the past, Israeli security forces have exposed several national ISIS terror cells, comprised mostly of Arabs with Israeli citizenship. Tens of suspects have been arrested.

Israel estimates 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 on their return to the country and others have been killed in action fighting with ISIS.

Israel fears 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, especially via social media, and will operate against the Jewish state and its citizens.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News