Shin Bet Raids Arab Towns, Arrests Tens Of Suspects With IS Affiliation

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A day after the Hadera terror attack in which two Border Police officers were murdered, The Shin Bet arrested Monday night more than 12 Arab Israelis with ties to IS. Five people were arrested on the night after the attack and more arrests  are expected as Israel cracks down on jihadist elements.

The arrests took place in the Arab towns of Sachnin, Nazareth and Umm El-Fahm, the town where Sunday’s terrorists were from.

The remand of another five Umm al-Fahm residents, arrested hours after the attack, was extended by 10 days on Monday.

The Shin Bet and police are expected to continue rounding up suspects with ties to IS after two deadly attacks by IS supporters have rocked Israel.

“The wave of arrests has begun, and it is expected to continue and even intensify in the coming days,” a police official told Channel 12 news on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett instructed security services Monday to hold any terror suspects in administrative detention, without charging them.

According to a statement from Bennett’s office, he said the controversial practice — which allows Israeli authorities to hold suspects in custody without charge — should be used “in appropriate circumstances in which it is possible to present a proper legal basis.”

Israel has also beefed up security forces in a number of key hotspots as Ramadan coincides with the month of Nissan and the Eid el-Fitr festival concluding the month will fall around Memorial Day and Independence Day.

The Shin Bet is also closely monitoring social networks to identify potential sources of incitement and terrorism and take action against these elements.

According to the assessments by defense officials cited by Hebrew-language media, there may be several dozen to several hundred people in Israel who at some point sympathized with Islamic State.