The Jerusalem District Court indicted two Arab residents of the city on Sunday for terrorist activity. The two, whose names were not released for publication, are from the neighborhood of Isawiye, near French Hill. Both hold Jerusalem residency, a status allowing them to work and vote in Jerusalem and enjoy state benefits.
The two are suspected members of the People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist group. They allegedly founded a terror cell that held activities to support the PFLP, and planned and carried out attacks in the Maaleh Adumim area.
Judges indicted the suspects for illegal weapons possession, membership in a criminal organization, and deliberately endangering human life. The latter charge was added due to the suspects' alleged involvement in firebomb and rock attacks. The attacks did not cause injury or death.
The two were allegedly plotting a deadly attack when they were arrested.
Earlier this month police arrested a gang of Arab men with Jerusalem residency who were dealing in weapons and drugs. Some of the weapons had been stolen from IDF soldiers. Police believe the gang may have been involved in terrorist activity or in selling weapons to terrorists.
The most recent terrorist attacks in Jerusalem were all carried out by Arab residents of the city. In the first, an Arab resident of Jabel Mukabar murdered eight young students in the Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva in central Jerusalem. Weeks later, a second terrorist went on a rampage while working at a construction site, killing three civilians with his bulldozer and wounding several others.
A similar attack took place one month later, injuring 24 people. Most recently, a young Arab resident of the city plowed his car into a group of soldiers and civilians near the Old City, wounding 23, some of them severely.