The Israel Security Agency on Thursday reported that it, in cooperation with the IDF and Israel Police, have recently arrested Yusef Yasser Sweilam, 23, a resident of Kalkilya and member of Hezbollah, who had been instructed to advance terrorist attacks, including an abduction.
His ISA interrogation revealed that Sweilam, a metal worker, had been recruited to Hezbollah via a Facebook profile that serves Hezbollah as a platform to recruit new members. At a certain point, Sweilam was instructed to open an “operational” e-mail account to which was sent encryption software, by means of which he maintained contact with his Hezbollah handlers.
His handlers directed Sweilam to carry out various tasks, including photographing – and gathering information on – IDF bases and checkpoints as well as sites in the Old City of Jerusalem. He was also directed to set up a terrorist cell in order to carry out an abduction and pass the abductee into Lebanon.
Sweilam was arrested before he was able to commit any of the terrorist attacks that had been planned.
An indictment has been filed against Sweilam in the Samaria Military Court.