One of the terrorists was involved in the suicide attack on the Stage nightclub in February was arrested by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and released. He then proceeded to helped plan the attack in Netanya. The suicide bomber exploded his charge on July 12 near Netanya's shopping mall, killing five Israelis.
One of the Israeli Arabs who helped him was Wasif Azam of the Arab city of Taybeh, between Kfar Saba and Netanya. He and Kfir Levy of Ramat Gan, adjacent to Tel Aviv, drove the suicide bomber and his handler from Tul Karem through an IDF checkpoint. The Israeli license plates on Levy's car enabled them to pass without a thorough check. Levy told investigators that although he regularly transports illegal workers and car thieves, had he known he was transporting terrorists he would have informed the police.
Another Israeli Arab also was arrested on charges of picking up the suicide bomber in Samaria and later accompanying him to Netanya.
Security officials said that the terrorists were suspicious enough that Azam and Levy should have suspected they were on their way to carry out the bombing although they denied any knowledge of the terrorists' identities or intentions.
Islamic Jihad terrorist Ali Abu Saadeh, who was released by the PA shortly after being arrested for involvement in the attack on the Stage nightclub, helped obtain a forged Israeli identity card for the handler of the suicide terrorist. Saadeh and the handler, Asaf Zaharan, picked up the suicide bomber from Shechem and then were driven by Taybeh resident Azam until they met up with Levy, who drove them to Taybeh.
Another Israeli Arab, who helped a suicide bomber in Haifa, was cleared by a Haifa court of murder charges on Tuesday. The three-judge panel reduced the charges to helping cause the death of the 21 victims in the October 2003 bombing at Maxim's restaurant. Relatives of the victims expressed shock over the decision.
The judges will determine at a later date the Arab resident of Um el-Fahm's sentence.
One of the Israeli Arabs who helped him was Wasif Azam of the Arab city of Taybeh, between Kfar Saba and Netanya. He and Kfir Levy of Ramat Gan, adjacent to Tel Aviv, drove the suicide bomber and his handler from Tul Karem through an IDF checkpoint. The Israeli license plates on Levy's car enabled them to pass without a thorough check. Levy told investigators that although he regularly transports illegal workers and car thieves, had he known he was transporting terrorists he would have informed the police.
Another Israeli Arab also was arrested on charges of picking up the suicide bomber in Samaria and later accompanying him to Netanya.
Security officials said that the terrorists were suspicious enough that Azam and Levy should have suspected they were on their way to carry out the bombing although they denied any knowledge of the terrorists' identities or intentions.
Islamic Jihad terrorist Ali Abu Saadeh, who was released by the PA shortly after being arrested for involvement in the attack on the Stage nightclub, helped obtain a forged Israeli identity card for the handler of the suicide terrorist. Saadeh and the handler, Asaf Zaharan, picked up the suicide bomber from Shechem and then were driven by Taybeh resident Azam until they met up with Levy, who drove them to Taybeh.
Another Israeli Arab, who helped a suicide bomber in Haifa, was cleared by a Haifa court of murder charges on Tuesday. The three-judge panel reduced the charges to helping cause the death of the 21 victims in the October 2003 bombing at Maxim's restaurant. Relatives of the victims expressed shock over the decision.
The judges will determine at a later date the Arab resident of Um el-Fahm's sentence.