A Haifa magistrates court decided Monday to release the identities of 10 Israeli Arabs suspected of complicity in the kidnap murder of an Israeli soldier, Moshe Tamam, a year ago. The information had been classified.
Four of the suspects believed to have been directly involved in the crime are residents of Baka Al-Gharbiya, a large Arab village near Hadera. They are allegedly members of George Habash’s Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, recruited in Cyprus by the terrorist organization and trained in Syria.
Officials here stressed that the case is exceptional and does not reflect on the loyalty of the large majority of Israeli Arabs. According to these officials, there have been relatively few cases of terrorism involving Israel’s Arab citizens. The hard core of the terrorist gangs are residents of the administered territories or infiltrators from neighboring countries, the officials said.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.