Al-Qaida in Israel / Fertile ground for terrorism

[notfullofit]

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.

snip

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.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1003470.html

[LeftishBrit]

1. I'm surprised there hasn't been an attack yet; and assume it's due to effective Israeli intelligence

They've attacked too many places already, and it's no secret that they hate Israel.

I wish they'd just disappear from the planet. Unfortunately the so-called 'War on Terror' and the fuck-up in Iraq are building them up, rather than the reverse.