Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., July 21, 2008 Tamuz 18, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:12 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Al-Qaida in Israel / Fertile ground for terrorism By Amos Harel Tags: Al-Qaida, Israel The uncovering of a second Arab-Israeli cell with ties to Al-Qaida in the space of a few weeks does not quite suggest that an attack by international Islamic terrorism is imminent. But we are still able to learn two things: that among Arab Israelis, like the Palestinians in the territories, there is growing support for the messages of Al-Qaida, and that the Israeli security services are also countering terrorist plans also through the Internet. The Bedouin men from Rahat who were arrested several weeks ago on suspicion of providing information on Israeli sites of possible attacks by Al-Qaida (including Ben-Gurion International Airport), and the cell on whose arrest a gag order was lifted Friday, operated in similar ways. In the latter case, the suspects are two Arab Israelis from Nazareth and Taibeh, who linked up with four Palestinians living in East Jerusalem. Their religious-ideological commitment was directed toward a terrorist plot (the six belonged to a religious study group at the Temple Mount). The cell contacted people linked with Al-Qaida through the Internet, collected basic information on possible targets and sought instruction on ways to carry out the attacks. It still seems they were a long way from being able to carry out any attacks. There is something a bit deceptive about the Shin Bet security service announcement, according to which the six joined "the Al-Qaida organization" in February this year. Israeli intelligence almost never uses the term "organization" to describe Al-Qaida and prefers the description "international jihad movement." Advertisement Al-Qaida is seen today as a loose network of organizations, which shares an extremist Islamic ideology and does not abide by a detailed and organized hierarchical structure. If anyone is imagining the six were sworn in to the organization in the middle of the night by Osama bin Laden, then he is in for a disappointment. It is a lot more likely that they communicated in Internet chat-rooms with individuals like themselves, who could have been a Pakistani youth in London or agents in Tel Aviv. The latest case also attracted some international attention because U.S. President George Bush's name came up in relation to it. One of the suspects took a photograph of the helicopter landing pad on which the president's helicopter was scheduled to land in Jerusalem, and asked for instructions on ways to target it. However there was a long way to go between the suspect's wishes and a practical plan: He lacked both the means and the technical expertise to strike at the president. What the cell did do, according to the indictment, and this is by no means minor - is to collect basic intelligence for an operation. The collection of intelligence, as well as the wish of Arab Israelis and Palestinians with 'blue' (Israeli) identifications, to carry out serious terrorist attacks, is troubling. No less troubling is the growing identification they sense with the agenda of Al-Qaida, which is much more extremist than that of Hamas or of the extremist wing of the Islamic Movement in Israel. For some years now the public declarations of Bin-Laden and his aides have increasingly focused on Israel and Jewish communities around the world as targets for terrorist attacks. It is also known that cells linked with Al-Qaida operate with relative ease in the Gaza Strip. The desire of Al-Qaida to operate in Israel is finding fertile ground. There are those who will willingly offer assistance - and therefore the likelihood of a strike by international jihad on Israeli soil (similar attacks have already taken place in Jordan and Sinai) is of reasonable likelihood. Bookmark to del.icio.us   'Icon of evil' Hitler icons take center stage at Jerusalem students' end-of-year art show. Caught on film Human rights group releases video of IDF soldier shooting Palestinian at short range.

Read & React Ahmadinejad's deputy: Iran is a friend of Israel, is not interested in war Responses: 139 OPINION: Essential things Israelis and Iranians should know about each other Responses: 116 Uzi Beniziman: Iranian bomb threatens the world more than it does Tel Aviv Responses: 45 VIDEO: Troops shoot bound Palestinian at short range Responses: 77 Emmanuel Sivan: Israel's negotiator exploited Nasrallah's weaknesses Responses: 38 More Headlines 23:28 Barak: Israel will do all it can to bring Shalit home 23:27 MI chief: Hezbollah may try to attack north soon 22:43 VIDEO: IDF soldier shoots bound Palestinian at short range 23:36 'I was attacked because I'm Arab' 21:13 Hitler icons take center stage at Jerusalem students' end-of-year art show 13:44 Model Zionist: Bar Refaeli poses for Jewish swimsuit calendar 20:11 Holding photo of Gilad Shalit, Betancourt urges 'freedom for everyone' 00:39 VIDEO / Olmert's lawyer: Police pressure shaped Talansky testimony 22:23 Brown: U.K. a true friend of Israel, will work toward terror-free future 16:23 Ahmadinejad's deputy: Iran is a friend of Israel 00:22 U.S. Jews honor Polish Holocaust rescuers at Warsaw gathering 21:22 Israel taps Professor Gabriela Shalev as new UN ambassador Previous Editions Select Day 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Dan Hotels Israel Live the Legend & experience an Unforgettable Summer Vacation Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved