Palestinian Authority flag in Nazareth
Palestinian Authority flag in NazarethIsrael news photo: Flash 90

Three young Arab men from the Israeli city of Nazareth were indicted Sunday for creating a terrorist cell. The three named their cell “Certain Death for Zionism” (Nauwad Alzaheina Balamut), but did not succeed in carrying out any fatal attacks prior to their arrest.

The accused have been identified as Ahmed Ghanem, 19, Muataz Shatawi, 19, and Nour A-Din Shahada, 18.

They are accused of forming an association with the intent of committing a crime and of weapons-related crimes. They allegedly planned to attack Israeli soldiers and Jewish civilians.

The three allegedly agreed to form the terrorist cell in January 2009. They started by attempting to build a bomb, using instructions Shatawi had found on the Internet. However, they were unsuccessful in creating pipe bombs and eventually abandoned the effort.

In 2009 and 2010 Ghanem allegedly worked to get weapons from a Palestinian Authority man living in Jenin. The man was to supply Ghanem with M-16 guns and bullets, which Ghanem would sell in Israel. He is also accused of agreeing to sell three Kalashnikov rifles on behalf of a second PA man.

Neither deal was carried out.

In mid-2010 seven Arab residents of Nazareth were arrested for creating a terrorist cell that carried out several attacks, including the murder in 2009 of taxi driver Yafim Weinstein.