In 2004 alone, 50 Arabs with Israeli citizenship were part of 25 terror cells uncovered by Israeli security forces.
One of the most recent cases was that of Ashraf Kaisi, an Israeli-Arab from Baka al-Gharbiya who took a major role in the most recent attack. He transported the suicide terrorist bomber to the Stage Club on Tel Aviv’s beachfront several weeks ago, after having helped him choose the location in which to blow himself up. Five Israelis were murdered in the attack that night.
A study by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, using data from the General Security Service (GSS ), shows that the percentage of Israeli-Arabs taking an active role in carrying out terror attacks - as opposed to merely handling logistics or reconnaissance - rose drastically in 2004. Thirteen such cases were discovered in 2004, as opposed to only five in 2003.
In 11 of the terror cells discovered in 2004, Israeli-Arabs assisted in the preparation of terror attacks emanating from the Palestinian Authority (PA). In addition to gathering information, they used their Israeli ID cards to travel freely on both sides of the Green Line to scout out potential targets, transport explosives and guns and recruit actual bombers.
Another trend in 2004 was an increase in the number of Israeli-Arabs under the age of 18 involved in terrorist attacks. Whereas only one such case was recorded in 2003, the nine Israeli-Arabs under the age of 18 involved in attacks in 2004 surpassed the total number from 2001-2003.
Seven of the Israeli-Arab cells were independent in their planning of kidnappings, shooting or stabbings, while the rest were directed by various PA terror groups and Lebanon's Hizbullah.
GSS head Avi Dichter warned earlier this year of increasing Israeli-Arab involvement in terrorism. He pointed specifically to the Arabs of Jerusalem, saying that four out of every 1,000 Jerusalem Arabs are involved in terrorist activities.
One of the most recent cases was that of Ashraf Kaisi, an Israeli-Arab from Baka al-Gharbiya who took a major role in the most recent attack. He transported the suicide terrorist bomber to the Stage Club on Tel Aviv’s beachfront several weeks ago, after having helped him choose the location in which to blow himself up. Five Israelis were murdered in the attack that night.
A study by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, using data from the General Security Service (GSS ), shows that the percentage of Israeli-Arabs taking an active role in carrying out terror attacks - as opposed to merely handling logistics or reconnaissance - rose drastically in 2004. Thirteen such cases were discovered in 2004, as opposed to only five in 2003.
In 11 of the terror cells discovered in 2004, Israeli-Arabs assisted in the preparation of terror attacks emanating from the Palestinian Authority (PA). In addition to gathering information, they used their Israeli ID cards to travel freely on both sides of the Green Line to scout out potential targets, transport explosives and guns and recruit actual bombers.
Another trend in 2004 was an increase in the number of Israeli-Arabs under the age of 18 involved in terrorist attacks. Whereas only one such case was recorded in 2003, the nine Israeli-Arabs under the age of 18 involved in attacks in 2004 surpassed the total number from 2001-2003.
Seven of the Israeli-Arab cells were independent in their planning of kidnappings, shooting or stabbings, while the rest were directed by various PA terror groups and Lebanon's Hizbullah.
GSS head Avi Dichter warned earlier this year of increasing Israeli-Arab involvement in terrorism. He pointed specifically to the Arabs of Jerusalem, saying that four out of every 1,000 Jerusalem Arabs are involved in terrorist activities.