An operation involving agents of the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) and police, six members of Israel’s Bedouin community were arrested on suspicion of being part of an ISIS cell. All of the suspects in custody are residents of Hura in the Negev region. The information of the arrests were cleared for publication on Monday, 19 Tammuz.

Four of the cell members are reportedly teachers at a Negev region school. It is alleged they actively tried to indoctrinate children with their pro-ISIS beliefs, and some planned visiting Syria to join ISIS in that country. A number of people who were not arrested were questioned, including one school head master, who is believed to have been aware of the cell and its goals.

The suspects in custody are;

· Bashir Jabrin, 26, an elementary school teacher.

· Akrham Ahmad Abu-Alkian, 30, an elementary school teacher.

· Mohammad Ahmad Abu-Alkian, 27, a high school teacher.

· Isa Shudaka Kahdir Abu-Alkian, 27.

· Sarif Shahada Raziq Abu-Alkian, 23.

· Hamze Ali Abu-Alkian, 27, a teacher.

Multi-count criminal indictments were filed against the suspects in a Beersheva court.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)