Fifteen members of a Druze clan living on the Golan Heights have been arrested on suspicion of membership in a Syrian spy ring which included in its activities the mailing of letter bombs from Israeli territory to American officials, it was disclosed today. They are expected to go on trial before a military court shortly on charges of espionage and attempted murder.
The suspects all come from Majdal Shams, on the slopes of Mt. Hermon, and belong to a family headed by Abu Jamal, 51, a wealthy Druze who is believed to be the ring leader. Israeli authorities said the ring was responsible for three letter bombs discovered in the Kiryat Shemona post office last Oct. addressed to President Nixon, Secretary of State William P. Rogers, and Defense Secretary Melvin Laird.
They are also accused of mailing letter bombs from a Tel Aviv post office, one of which injured a school teacher it Kiryat Gat. Israeli authorities said the letter bombs were supplied by Syrian intelligence agents who wanted them posted from Israel in order to focus blame in the wrong direction.
The primary mission of the spy ring was espionage. Intelligence relating to Israeli military deployment and other security matters was left at a pre-arranged “drop” on Israeli territory to be picked up by Syrian agents who relayed their instructions to the spy ring in a similar manner. The ring was exposed after several of its members were surprised by an Israeli patrol on the way to the drop.
Two of them ignored an order to halt and were killed. One of the dead men turned out to be a son of Abu Jamal. He was carrying Israeli newspapers and periodicals and information of a military nature. An investigation led to Majdal Shamas village where Abu Jamal and the others were arrested.
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