Terrorist Who Specialized in Rock Attacks Nabbed

The Shin Bet, in cooperation with the IDF and the Israel Police, have arrested a terrorist who specialized in throwing stones at Israeli vehicles in the area of Tekoa and Gush Etzion, it was revealed for publication. Ihab Salameh Daoud Alshibat, 45, a resident of the village, Beit Sahour, and a member of the Fatah terrorist group, was involved in dozens of incidents of rock attacks in recent months, endangering drivers and pedestrians.

The attacks were made from moving vehicles against cars that were driving on high speeds on highways in the area – an action designed to maximize damage to vehicles and maximize danger to the drivers and passengers. Numerous vehicles were damaged, although, b’chasdei Shamayim, drivers were able to avoid major injuries or crashes.

According to investigators, the terrorist selected his rocks very carefully, looking for jagged stones that would inflict the most damage. Often when he missed, he would go back to collect the rocks from the road for use again. When he was arrested last week, several such stones were found in his vehicle. He was indicted on Monday, and officials are seeking to extend his remand until the end of proceedings against him.

Overnight Monday, security officials said they arrested 9 wanted security suspects across 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.

Also Monday, Interior Minister Rabbi Aryeh Deri said that he intended to kick Haifa terrorist Mohammed Shinawi out of the country. Rabbi Deri on Monday filed a request with State Attorney Avichai Mandelblit for his agreement to the opening of proceedings to strip Shinawi of his Israeli citizenship, after he murdered Haifa resident Guy Kafri, Hy”d, last month.

In the January 3rd incident, Shinawi went on a shooting spree in the streets of Haifa, shooting at three people. Besides Kafri, he also shot and wounded Harav Yechiel Ilouz, a Dayan who served in a Haifa beis din. He also shot at another woman who was pushing a baby stroller, but missed. Shinawi, with the assistance of two friends, traveled to several spots in Haifa’s lower city and conducted the shootings. He later turned himself in to police, telling them that he felt they were “closing in” on him. The two shootings took place about a kilometer away from each other.

After an extensive inquiry by Shin Bet officials, it emerged that the shooting was terrorist in nature. Kafri’s murderer, Mohammed Shinawi, told investigators that he had shot Kafri and others because of his hatred of Jews. Police initially did not find any connection between Shinawi and Islamism, but it later emerged that he had been active in arson attacks during the second Lebanon war, setting fire to vehicles and buildings owned by Jews. He had become more radical in recent years, investigators added, to the extent that he saw murdering Jews as a religious Muslim duty.

Indictments were handed down against Shinawi and his two compatriots, Khaled Abu Kaliv and Ahab Yussuf, on a variety of charges, including murder, conspiracy to commit terror attacks, attempted murder, illegal weapons possessions, and others. However, Deri seeks to go further, and strip Shinawi of his citizenship as well. The move is based on a 195 law that allows for terrorists’ citizenship to be canceled, with the permission of the state attorney.

“Use of Israeli residency, and especially citizenship, to murder and terrorize Israelis is unforgivable,” Rabbi Deri said. “I will work with determination to strip such people of their citizenship. There is no need to stress the need for those who hold citizenship in this country to be loyal to it.”