Police and members of the Shin Bet (General Security Services) managed to foil a terrorist plot with the arrest of a Gaza man who infiltrated Israel from Sinai. The terrorist was arrested in the Negev on June 1, but the affair was kept secret under court order until Sunday.
The terrorist infiltrator has been identified as 25-year-old Abed el-Rahman Talalqa of Nuseirat in central Gaza. He was indicted Sunday in the Be'er Sheva Magistrates Court.
Talalqa has admitted to infiltrating Israel with the goal of establishing a terror cell and carrying out attacks. Prior to sneaking from Gaza to Sinai, he went through extensive military training, Talalqa told investigators. He received training in attacks from sea, creating car bombs, creating bomb belts and chemical bombs as well as other makeshift weapons, and using GPS and maps to gather information.
One of Talalqa's main goals was to kidnap an IDF soldier to use as a bargaining chip. He was also told to collect data on IDF bases, to be used in future attacks, and to gather information on military and civilian centers. He planned to enlist and train potential suicide bombers as well, and to obtain chemicals to be used in making bombs.