Weapons confiscated from planned attack
Weapons confiscated from planned attackShin Bet

Israel Security Agency (ISA or Shin Bet) revealed on Monday that during October and November security forces arrested several Arab terrorists who were planning a suicide bomb attack in the heart of Tel Aviv.

Those arrested include Yasmin Sha'aban, an Arab woman from Jenin in Samaria, along with four residents of Tulkarm area just over the 1949 Armistice line in Samaria to the east of Netanya.

The five were in touch with a terrorist operative from Gaza who gave them instructions on how to assemble explosives and carry out the attack.

"According to the plot that was hatched, Sha'aban was the designated suicide bomber. She was supposed to carry out the attack with an explosives belt hidden in her cloths while disguised as a pregnant Jewish woman," the Shin Bet said. 

According to the Shin Bet investigation, Sha'aban was planning to get an entry permit to sovereign Israeli territory for medical reasons and use it to launch her attack on Israeli civilians.

After arresting the five, security forces seized an improvised M-16 semi-automatic rifle, a hunting rifle, ammunition and explosives. The five confessed to planning the suicide bombing as well as other attacks.

Further detailing the revealed attack plan, Shin Bet noted the terrorists intended to illegally live in an apartment in sovereign Israeli territory to plan the attack. When the attack was to launched, Sha'aban intended to dress up as a pregnant Jewish woman armed with a bomb belt under her clothes and head for Tel Aviv.

In addition to the suicide attack, the terrorists planned to plant a bomb on a bus carrying soldiers, and to kidnap an IDF soldier.

According to the investigation Hamas and Islamic Jihad planned to claim joint responsibility for the attack, indicating their involvement in the planning.

Sha'aban and another suspect have been charged with terrorism at the Samaria District Court.

Shin Bet noted that the arrests illustrate "the high motivation that exists among terror operatives to carry out attacks, with an emphasis on the period after Operation Pillar of Defense." Likewise, it gives further evidence at the active attempts by terrorist organizations in Gaza to expand their activities to Judea and Samaria.