Israeli forces bust Palestinian arson cell

Israeli security forces have arrested three Palestinians responsible for attacks in the recent wave of arson terror. 

Israel’s combined security forces arrested three Palestinians who are suspected of being responsible for several arson attacks in November, the Shin Bet (Israel’s Security Agency) stated Sunday.

In a combined Shin Bet, IDF and Israel Police operation, the three, residents of the Palestinian village of Iskaka in Samaria, were arrested on November 26th after they were suspected of carrying out arson attacks on Jewish communities located close to their village in the vicinity of the city of Ariel.

Hamdan Tzakar Hamdan Lami, 19, Jouad Muhammad Fayiz Daher, 19, and Vizid Ahmed Hamdan Lami, 24, said during questioning that they committed the attacks for nationalistic motives.

Their files have been transferred to the IDF Military Prosecutor pending trial.

In total, some 30 Arab suspects have been arrested in connection with the blazes that ravaged the country.

Most of the Arabs arrested are from the Palestinian Authority (PA), while some have Israeli citizenship. Several of the arrestees are being held in connection with incitement to arson, mostly on social media.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan stated at the time of the attacks that the arsonists must be treated as terrorists and called for the demolition of their homes, as is done in the case of Palestinian terrorists who carry out stabbing or shooting attacks.

Erdan said that arson attacks are a new form of terrorism, and should be dealt with accordingly. He emphasized that the same incitement and hatred, which in the past caused Arabs to attack Israelis, is now driving Arabs to try to burn people and destroy communities.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

ArsonPalestinian terrorSamariaShin Bet