JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Arab-Israeli was convicted of entering Syria to join and receive training from the jihadist group ISIS.
Ahmad Sorbaji, 23, of Umm al-Fahm, was found guilty in Haifa District Court on Tuesday of going to Syria and spending four months training with ISIS, both with weapons and religiously.
Israel considers Syria an enemy state and is officially at war with the bordering nation.
“Leaving to take part in military training in any rival nation in general, and in Syria in particular, under the authority of ISIS specifically, presents a security offense which carries great danger to the defense of Israel,” the court ruled, Ynet reported.
Sorbaji traveled from Israel to Turkey in January and then crossed into Syria. He returned to Israel through Turkey. He was arrested at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport upon his return.
Ten Arab-Israelis reportedly have entered Syria to train with ISIS.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
