Authorities on Wednesday lifted a gag order, permitting the publication of the arrests of eastern Jerusalem residents suspected of weapons dealing.
 
Ten residents of Azariya near Maale Adumim were taken into custody about two weeks ago, arrested by members of the Israel Police Minorities Unit. They are suspected of dealing in weapons and armaments. The main suspect is a 30-year-old who police believe over the past two months, sold no less than 19 bombs, a handgun and a shotgun, all to an undercover police agent.
 
The investigation was launched after police received a tip on the main suspect, who works as a member of the janitorial staff in an Ein Kerem agricultural school. The success of the investigation was due to the undercover agent, an Israeli Arab policeman, who learned that bombs were being sold to be used in terror attacks.
At one point police report, they learned the suspect offered the security guard at the Ein Kerem (Jerusalem) school to buy his handgun for NIS 5,000. The guard refused and filed a police complaint.
 
Also involved in the investigation and arrests were members of border police and Yomam anti-terror undercover units as well as members of the Gidonim commando unit of Israel Police.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)