Six Arabs Arrested for Social-Media Incitement

Six residents of Arab neighborhoods of Yerushalayim have been arrested for incitement to terror, after they published hundreds of anti-Israel messages on social-media networks. The suspects published photos displaying acts of terror, words of praise for terrorists, and instructions on how to carry out terror attacks. Investigators said they could be connected with specific acts of violence and terror. Police plan to ask for an extension of their remand until the end of proceedings against them.

Meanwhile, police have dropped their investigation of a Bedouin Arab who had posted what appeared to be messages inciting Arabs to set fires during the wave of wildfires that struck Israel. Annas Abu Dabbas of Rahat claimed that the posts he had published were satirical in nature, and instead of encouraging Arabs to set fires, he was shaming them into condemning them. Among the things Dabbas wrote: “As part of the celebrations of the fires in Israel, I recommend that Arabs boycott Turkey, which was the first country to send help.” In another post, he wrote “there are still forests that have not burned down. I recommend that our juvenile delinquents hurry to Ashkelon, Beit Shean and the other places where Palestinians lived and were stolen from them.”

Police arrested Dabbas after the posts appeared on social media, and a Be’er Sheva court extended his remand. Altogether he was in custody for five days before being released.

Overnight Sunday, security officials said they arrested eight wanted security suspects in other areas in Yehudah and Shomron. The suspects were wanted for participating in rioting and throwing stones and firebombs that endangered Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. Several of the suspects were also charged with belonging to Hamas. All were being questioned on their activities by security forces.