An Israeli Arab Health Ministry employee who worked at Eitanim Hospital was convicted Wednesday on charges of joining Da’esh (ISIS).
Most Israeli Arabs who have been caught trying to join the terrorist organization have not been employees of the Israeli government.
Halil Halil was convicted by Jerusalem District Court Judge David Mintz in a plea bargain deal on a single charge of joining a terror group.
To cross into Syria to join ISIS, Halil purchased tickets in November 2014 for flights to Athens, Istanbul and Edna – a city on Turkey’s border with Syria – using his government benefits.
After successfully making contact with Da’esh, Halil conducted several different activities to prepare for a border crossing on foot with other new recruits to the terrorist group. He and the others were caught by a Turkish border patrol in January 2015, however.
Halil was deported to Israel and arrested upon his arrival. He was indicted in March 2015 on charges of joining a terror organization, attempting contact with a foreign agent and leaving the country illegally.