The ISA detained for investigation three Israeli-Arabs activists for an Islamic organization.
The ISA together with the Israel Police, on 11.08.2003, detained for investigation three Israeli-Arabs, two of whom
admitted that they were recruited as activists for an Islamic organization by Hebron Hamas terrorist Yusuf Nakairah.
Nakairah was illegally staying in the Negev, and the three together gathered information in order to perpetrate attacks
against IDF soldiers in the Negev.
Yusuf Mahmud Nakairah, 21, Hamas terrorist from Hebron, was arrested on 8.7.2003. Nakairah admitted that he had been
recruited by the military wing of the Hamas and had been active in recruiting others in order to establish a military
cell. Nakairah was able to enlist two Israeli Arabs from the Negev, Ali Ariyat and a minor, and also admitted that Ali’s
brother who was a tracker in the IDF, had trained them in shooting and in the preparation of pipe bombs, for the purpose
of kidnapping a former senior army officer, kidnapping soldiers, murdering soldiers in order to steal their weapons, and
a car bombing of - and shooting at - a bus full of soldiers.
The following terrorists were arrested on 11.08.2003:
Ali Aziz Saliman Ariyat, 22, an Israeli citizen from Pzoret, who admitted that he had been active in military training,
and had gathered information on bus movements in the area of Nevatim junction in order to perpetrate an attack against
soldiers. Ariyat was also involved in planning to kidnap soldiers and attack residents of Be’er Sheva. Ariyat also tried
to recruit a
Tel Arad resident to his terror cell.