عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Palestinians in Jerusalem Accused of Plotting with ISIS

Israeli border police members stand guard following an incident at Qalandia checkpoint in the Israeli-occupied West Bank September 18, 2019. (Reuters)
Israeli border police members stand guard following an incident at Qalandia checkpoint in the Israeli-occupied West Bank September 18, 2019. (Reuters)
TT
20
TT

Palestinians in Jerusalem Accused of Plotting with ISIS

Israeli border police members stand guard following an incident at Qalandia checkpoint in the Israeli-occupied West Bank September 18, 2019. (Reuters)
Israeli border police members stand guard following an incident at Qalandia checkpoint in the Israeli-occupied West Bank September 18, 2019. (Reuters)

Israeli police said Wednesday they had arrested two Arabs from eastern Jerusalem suspected of plotting with the ISIS group to attack Jerusalem.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP that Ahmed Jaabis, 21, and Bassel Abidat, 19, were charged on Sunday with membership in ISIS.

He said they planned to carry out an attack in Jerusalem on Israeli independence day - which falls in April next year - when there are large public gatherings of Jews.

A police statement said "concrete intelligence" directed undercover officers disguised as Arabs to homes in the Jabel Mukaber neighborhood Jerusalem where they arrested the men.

The raid took place in October but was only publicized on Wednesday.

"The accused are members of the ISIS terror organization," said the police statement, quoting from the charge sheet.

"The accused discussed the possibility of carrying out murderous terror attacks at various sites in the city of Jerusalem or at army bases in the Jordan Valley area with the aim of killing as many Jews as possible in the name of ISIS," it added.

They allegedly discussed acquiring firearms or, if that could not be done, of carrying out stabbings.

Abidat was accused of trying to join ISIS forces in the Egyptian Sinai peninsula but the police said he was prevented from crossing the Jordan-Egypt border by Jordanian frontier guards.

Dozens of suspects, mostly Israeli Arabs, have been arrested in recent years for allegedly fighting for extremist organizations abroad or for involvement in activities inspired by such groups.

Israeli Arabs are the descendants of the Palestinians who remained on their land when Israel was founded in 1948, representing about 17.5% of nearly 9 million Israelis. Most Palestinians in Jerusalem hold a residency card.

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Sisi, Burhan Discuss Nile Water Security, Post-War Reconstruction in Sudan

Sisi meets Al-Burhan at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on April 28, 2025 (Egyptian Presidency). 
Sisi meets Al-Burhan at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on April 28, 2025 (Egyptian Presidency). 
TT
20
TT

Sisi, Burhan Discuss Nile Water Security, Post-War Reconstruction in Sudan

Sisi meets Al-Burhan at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on April 28, 2025 (Egyptian Presidency). 
Sisi meets Al-Burhan at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on April 28, 2025 (Egyptian Presidency). 

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held high-level talks in Cairo on Monday with Sudanese Sovereignty Council Chairman General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, focusing on regional water security and Egypt’s role in rebuilding war-torn Sudan.

The meeting, held at Al-Ittihadiya Palace, underscored Egypt’s commitment to supporting Sudan amid its ongoing internal conflict, which has ravaged the country since April 2023. Sisi reaffirmed his country’s readiness to contribute to reconstruction efforts and help restore infrastructure destroyed by the civil war.

In a joint statement, the two leaders emphasized their continued coordination to preserve the water security of both nations and rejected unilateral measures concerning the Nile River. Egyptian presidential spokesperson Mohamed al-Shennawy said the talks also covered broader regional issues, particularly developments in the Nile Basin and the Horn of Africa.

“There is complete alignment between Egypt and Sudan on the strategic importance of shared water resources and the need for regional stability,” al-Shennawy said.

The two sides reiterated their opposition to unilateral actions related to the Blue Nile—Ethiopia’s main tributary for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Egypt and Sudan have long called for a binding legal agreement with Ethiopia on the dam’s operation to safeguard their downstream water rights.

Al-Burhan’s visit came at the invitation of Sisi and follows a series of diplomatic contacts aimed at bolstering bilateral cooperation. Sisi personally welcomed the Sudanese leader at Cairo Airport before accompanying him to the palace for official reception ceremonies.

Talks included the recent battlefield developments in Sudan, where the Sudanese Armed Forces have reportedly regained control of the capital, Khartoum. Both leaders discussed coordinating efforts to support civilians in conflict zones and advance political and economic integration between the two countries.

In expanded discussions involving ministers and senior officials from both sides, Egypt and Sudan agreed to accelerate joint projects in key sectors such as electricity interconnection, rail infrastructure, trade, agriculture, health, industry, mining, and cultural exchange.

Sudan has been mired in civil war since mid-2023, pitting the national army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has displaced over 14 million people, with more than 1.2 million seeking refuge in Egypt, according to UN figures.

Sisi has consistently called for a ceasefire and stressed the importance of maintaining Sudan’s territorial integrity and institutional stability. He recently condemned plans by the RSF to announce a parallel government in areas under its control, calling the move a direct threat to Sudan’s unity and sovereignty.

Sudanese Ambassador to Cairo Imad-Eddin Adawi hailed the summit as a testament to the “depth and resilience” of Egyptian-Sudanese ties. “There is a shared political will to move forward together,” he said, adding that Egypt plays a pivotal role in mediating regional stability and facilitating dialogue among Sudanese factions.

Hossam Issa, Egypt’s former assistant foreign minister for Sudan, described al-Burhan’s visit as a “milestone” in efforts to end the conflict. “The recent military gains on the ground could pave the way for restoring governance in Khartoum and beginning the process of reconstruction,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.