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The investigation of the Israeli Arabs that were involved with terrorist organizations. |
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From the investigation, it arises that Ibrahim Muhammad Ibrahim Bakri,
21, an Israeli citizen from Ba'aneh village, met the suicide-terrorist,
Jihad Hamadeh, a resident of Burkin Jenin, a Jordanian by birth, while the latter worked illegally for the former's uncle Aziz, also from
Ba'aneh. Ibrahim and his good friend Yasin Bakri, also a resident of
Ba'aneh, were Jihad's direct partners in putting the attack into action.
From the investigation, it arises that approximately one year ago, Jihad
was arrested, along with another uncle of Ibrahim's, Marwan, who was
illegally employing Jihad, who lacked the necessary permits to be in
Israel. Jihad was expelled to the Palestinian Authority areas but
continued to be in telephone contact with Ibrahim.
Jihad told Ibrahim that he had joined Hamas and that he wished to carry
out a suicide attack. He also mentioned that he was due to carry out
the 31.3.2002 attack at the Matza restaurant in Haifa but in the end,
the attack was perpetrated by another suicide-bomber.
Several days before the attack at Meron Junction, Jihad contacted
Ibrahim and reiterated that he wished to carry out a suicide attack;
Jihad sought Ibrahim's assistance in moving from place to place.
Ibrahim expressed his willingness to assist Jihad.
Two days before the attack, on 2.8.2002, Jihad contacted Ibrahim and
said that he was on his way to Acre and asked Ibrahim to help him. The
latter picked him up and then Jihad told him that he had a bag
containing a bomb and a pistol.
After Jihad informed Ibrahim of his plan, the latter contacted his
friend Yasin and asked him to meet him and Jihad.
When Yasin arrived at the rendezvous, Ibrahim informed him of Jihad's
plan to carry out a bomb attack. Yasin said that he was ready to render
assistance. Jihad showed them the pistol and the bomb, as well as
clothes and a camera that were designed to make him look like a tourist.
The three discussed the preferred target for the attack with a view
towards causing as many casualties as possible. In they end, they
agreed that the attack would be perpetrated on a bus carrying a large
number of soldiers. Jihad gave Ibrahim a phone number that the latter
was to call after the attack and state that the former had perpetrated
the attack.
In the evening, Ibrahim and Yasin proposed that Jihad spend the night at
Ibrahim's house in Ba'aneh. Ibrahim's father was told that Jihad would
stay with them until the following Sunday when he would then return to
Jordan.
During the weekend, Ibrahim and Yasin worked to hide Jihad's presence in
Ba'aneh and conceal the bomb. The two were assisted by additional
family members (Aziz, Muhammad and others), who knew that Jihad was in
Israel illegally. Ibrahim bought two nine-volt batteries for Jihad to
use in detonating the bomb.
On the morning of Sunday, 4.8.2002, the three traveled to the entrance
of Ba'aneh. Jihad stayed in Yasin's car in order to get organized for
the attack and try to assume the appearance of an Israeli. Ibrahim and
Yasin went to Carmiel in order to select an appropriate bus for the
attack.
When they reached Carmiel, Ibrahim and Yasin chose a Safed-bound Egged
#361 bus. They returned to Yasin's car at the entrance to Ba'aneh.
Jihad had, by this time, donned the appropriate clothes to make him
appear Israeli.
Ibrahim and Yasin told Jihad about the #361 bus; the latter said that he
did not want to board the bus at the central bus station for fear of
being discovered by the security forces there. Ibrahim and Yasin
proposed to take him to a bus stop along the way. The three traveled
toward the bus stop near moshav Shazur, with Ibrahim leading the way in
his vehicle and Jihad and Yasin following in the latter's car.
During the ride, Jihad got out of Yasin's car for a few minutes in order
to connect the batteries to the bomb and prepare it for detonation.
Jihad informed Yasin that the pistol was for an emergency, if the bomb
did not explode. At 07:50, the two left Jihad at Shazur Junction and
drove towards Carmiel to check that the #361 bus had left the station.
When they spotted the bus, they followed it until it reached Shazur
Junction; they saw Jihad board the bus. Afterwards, they drove to
Yasin's place of work in order to fabricate an alibi.
After they learned that the attack had been carried out, Ibrahim
informed his father and uncles Muhammad and Aziz that it was highly
likely that Jihad was responsible. Aziz instructed Ibrahim to return to
work as usual and that he wouldn't tell anyone. Muhammad and Ibrahim's
father did likewise.
Since the current wave of Palestinian violence began, the involvement of
Israeli Arabs has grown. Israeli Arabs have been involved in aiding and
abetting, and perpetrating, severe terror attacks against Israel.
Terrorist organizations seek to exploit the freedom of movement that
Israeli Arabs enjoy both in Israel and in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, as
well as the fact that they are well acquainted with the moods and
patterns of behavior of Israeli society.
The State Prosecutor's Office will soon submit indictments against those
involved in the affair.
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