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The Shin Bet, in cooperation with the Israel Police, on 11 Shevat, arrested Valentin Vladimir Mazalevsky, born in 1977, an Israeli citizen who resides in Shibli, married and the father of five, in the wake of intelligence information that he had tried recently to go to Syria in order to join the fighting as a member of Islamic State. Mazalevsky immigrated to Israel from Belarus in 1996 and converted to Islam in 2000 during his military service, after having met his wife, a resident of Shibli.

The Shin Bet investigation has revealed that Mazalevsky supports Islamic State and even purchased a one-way ticket to Turkey in order to cross the border into Syria and join organization as a fighter. Mazalevsky was active in an online Islamic State support group and coordinated his trip to Syria with it.

The Shin Bet explains it views the departure of Israelis to Syria and Iraq as a very dangerous phenomenon, adding “Islamic State disseminates deceptive photographs to the effect that a good and respectable life is possible under its rule and that those who join the fighting will enjoy a religious and military adventure. However, the investigations of Israelis who have returned from Syria and Iraq show the opposite – harsh conditions under constant threat”.

The Shin Bet views Islamic State supporters in Israel as a severe security threat and reports it will prosecute those involved to the fullest extent of the law. The Northern District of the State Attorney’s Office on Wednesday 3 Adar, filed a severe indictment against Mazalevsky in the Nazareth District Court.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Police spokesman unit)