Israeli authorities arrest three Palestinians

Three residents of Umm el-Fahm were indicted for planning a terrorist attack on the Temple Mount, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) said on Thursday. A third resident was arrested at the same time for possessing firearms and supporting Islamic State.

The three were allegedly affiliated with ISIS and were arrested earlier this month in a joint operation of the Shin Bet and the Israel Police. According to a statement released for publication on Thursday, the three were planning a shooting attack similar to the one in July, in which two Israeli police officers were killed.

The three were identified as Sa’id Ghasoub Mahmoud Jabarin, 26, who is suspected of masterminding the attack; Fares Salah Mahmoud Mahajneh, 24, an ISIS supporter who is suspected in possessing firearms; and another, unnamed, 16-year-old who is suspected of involvement.

Jabarin and the minor were indicted in the Haifa District Court on charges of conspiring to aid an enemy, contact with a foreign agent and on a series of weapons charges.

During the investigation, the police found two pistols and ammunition that the suspects were planning to use in their attack. In addition, a Carl Gustav-type submachine gun was found in Mahajne’s house.

The police statement stressed that the attack was planned in light of the suspects’ support of Islamic State and its ideology. The suspects were said to frequent ISIS propaganda websites and watch official ISIS videos and had planned to join the group’s fighters in Syria.
The indictment document said the three were also planning to target security personnel and other non-Muslims and that they already conducted reconnaissance surveys around the compound, looking for potential locations to carry out the attack.

The police statement stressed that the attack was planned in light of the suspects’ support of Islamic State and its ideology. The suspects were said to frequent ISIS propaganda websites and watch official ISIS videos and had planned to join the group’s fighters in Syria.

The indictment document said the three were also planning to target security personnel and other non-Muslims and that they already conducted reconnaissance surveys around the compound, looking for potential locations to carry out the attack.