Released for publication: Two Jerusalem Arabs were caught in Be’er Sheva preparing for terrorist attacks in Tel Aviv and elsewhere. They are being charged with espionage, aiding an enemy, and other crimes.
The two terrorists, both in their mid-20’s, were arrested a month ago in the Be’er Sheva bus station when they acted in a suspicious manner. The two - Marad Kamal and Marad Namar, both of eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods and both carrying Israeli identity cards – were found to have flash drives with information they had gathered on potential terrorist targets in Jerusalem, Mevaseret Zion, Tel Aviv and Be’er Sheva.
The two used their rights as Israeli citizens to travel freely and gather information. 
The Shabak (Israel Security Agency) announced that the two were recruited by Hamas when they studied in Jordan and Dubai. When they returned to Israel, they began collecting intelligence, including photographs, on potential terrorist targets. Their list included the bus stations in Jerusalem and Be’er Sheva, the Tel Aviv beach, the Malcha Mall in Jerusalem, central bus stops in Jerusalem and Mevaseret Zion, and the Tel HaShomer army base in Ramat Gan.
Marad Namar studied engineering in Jordan between 2003 and 2007, and was recruited by Hamas at the end of his studies. He met with Hamas officials in Saudi Arabia, recruited pharmacology student Marad Kamal, continued his studies in Dubai, and continued to meet with Hamas operatives in Turkey and elsewhere.
The two terrorists returned to Israel in 2009, and began collecting information on various sites in Israel. They took photographs and videos of teeming areas throughout the country, and prepared maps and diagrams of two large Jerusalem malls. They wrote down how many Jews and soldiers were in each place, and listed the security arrangements in the various locations. The information was typed into flash drive files, and was to be transferred to Hamas headquarters abroad.
The two Marads were also supposed to receive explosives and weapons, for which they had already prepared and widened a cave in the Sataf area, just outside Jerusalem.
The Shabak emphasizes that the two used their rights as Israeli citizens to travel freely and gather information. The case also places in bold relief the efforts of Hamas and other terrorist organizations to recruit students for their cause, especially those studying chemistry and engineering.
The two will be indicted today, Monday, in the Jerusalem District Court on charges of contact with a foreign agent, membership in a terrorist organization, aiding an enemy during war time, and espionage.