Two Israeli Arab Supporters of Islamic State Arrested

Two brothers from the Israeli-Arab city of Umm el-Fahm were arrested by Israeli security forces for involvement with Islamic State.

In a coordinated operation, the Shin Bet and Israel Police apprehended in recent days Mahmoud Abd al-Karim Qassem Jabarin, 25, and Na’im Abd al-Karim Qassem Jabarin, 20, in possession of weapons and IS paraphernalia. The arrests were cleared for publication on Friday.

The suspects were found with a Carl Gustav-style submachine gun on the roof of their home, as well as a large number of photographs which “reinforced suspicions that the two supported the ideas and ideology of Islamic State,” the Shin Bet statement said.

According to the Shin Bet, authorities had received intelligence that Mahmoud was in contact with an IS recruiter, a former resident of Umm el-Fahm who has been in Syria since 2014, and that Mahmoud had intended to leave Israel for Syria to join the group.

The investigation also revealed that the younger brother, Na’im, swore allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Mahmoud was indicted on charges of collaboration with a foreign agent and Na’im was charged for possession of illegal weapons.