TEL AVIV (JTA) — Five Arab-Israeli men suspected of pledging support to the Islamic State terror group have been arrested.
The arrests by the Israel Police and Shin Bet intelligence agency took place in October and November and were announced Tuesday. They followed an investigation that found the men obtained weapons and practiced with them. In parallel, according to the police, the suspects met in secret for religious classes and to discuss potential terror attacks.
Police confiscated two rifles during the investigation. At the meetings, according to police, the men declared their support for the Islamic State, also known as ISIS.
The men have been charged with illegal possession of weapons, belonging to an illegal organization and attending the organization’s meetings.
Also Tuesday, Israel Defense Forces soldiers reportedly killed a Palestinian during clashes in the West Bank.
Palestinian media reported that Malik Akram Shahin, 19, was shot in the head Tuesday during a confrontation with Israeli troops in a West Bank refugee camp outside Bethlehem, according to Haaretz. According to the IDF, he was part of a group of teens who threw firebombs and other explosives at them.
