Six suspected new Da’esh (ISIS) recruits have been arrested in the Negev Bedouin town of Hura, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) announced Monday.
Hura is one of the seven original Bedouin towns created for the permanent settlement of the Negev Bedouin by the Israeli government, along with Rahat, a large city considered to be the “Bedouin capital of the Negev.” Hura is located on Highway 31 just outside of Be’er Sheva, about 25 minutes west of Arad.
The suspected terrorists were identified as: Bashir Jabran Salim abu Alkyan, 26 (Hura elementary school teacher); Akram Al’ab Ahmed abu Alkyan, 30, (elementary school teacher, Rahat); Muhammad Al’ab Ahmed abu Alkyan, 27, (high school teacher, Hura); Khader Hassan abu Alkyan, 27, from Hura; Sharif Shahada Rezek abu Alkyan, from Atir; and Hamza Abed Ali Alkyan, (teacher from Hura.)
The suspects were accused of actively spreading Da’esh ideology. They were also allegedly attending secret meetings of the terror group’s movement, the Shin Bet said in its statement.
Four of the six suspects are teachers and used their positions as educators to spread the ISIS philosophy and propaganda among students and teachers. All six shared the Da’esh doctrine with their family members and associates, according to the Shin Bet statement.
The suspects were indicted on charges of distributing materials for an illegal organization; support for a terrorist organization; conspiracy to commit a crime and illegally exiting the country. Those who were teachers were brought to a hearing at the Education Ministry and their teaching licenses were revoked as well.
Several of the suspects allegedly were planning to travel to Syria to join the ranks of the terror group in its fight against government troops there. A number of other members of the terrorist cell had already left Israel and gone to Syria to fight for Da’esh.
In addition to the arrests carried out over the past two months, a school principal was investigated on suspicion of knowing about the teachers’ involvement with the terror group – and failing to report it to authorities. Other school personnel were investigated as well.
The Education Ministry also issued a statement stating its plans to begin working in the schools to restore stability and confidence among the other teachers and the students in the aftermath of the arrests.