In an effort to deal with individuals attempting to join terror organizations, Israel declared three Islamic terror groups as illegal.
Israel’s government on Sunday officially declared the Islamic State (ISIS), the Abdullah Azam Brigades and the al-Nusra terror groups as illegal organizations in Israel during the weekly Cabinet meeting.
“In recent years we have been witness to the rise of organizations operating in accordance with a Salafist Jihadist ideology. These organizations wish to establish a society based on Sharia law and the return to the glory days of ancient Islam. They have set their sights on the State of Israel as a target for their terror attacks, “the cabinet said in a statement noting that Palestinians and Arabs with Israeli citzenship are also drawn to these terror groups and their aspirations.
The government endorsed a recommendation by the Shin Bet (Israel’s Security Agency), which was presented to the cabinet by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked.
In September 2014 Minister of Defense Moshe Ya’alon designated ISIS and the Lebanon-based Abdullah Azzam Brigades as unlawful organizations.
PM Netanyahu leads a cabinet meeting. (Ohad Zwigenberg/POOL)
This new decision enhances Israel’s ability to use legal tools to thwart the terror organizations’ operations, and has international ramifications for the global war on terror.
Israel estimates that some 50 Israeli Arabs have joined ISIS in Syria and Iraq over the past two years. Ten of them have been arrested upon their return to the country.
Israeli security forces have also arrested several Palestinian and Israeli-Arab terror cells with connections to ISIS or that have been inspired by them.
Israel fears that Arabs returning to Israel from fighting with ISIS will use their experience to establish terror networks and commit attacks within Israel, or that Arabs in Israel will be inspired by ISIS, and especially via social media, and will work against the state and its citizens.
Just this weekend, ISIS released a new video with a message in Hebrew, warning about an upcoming war, saying ‘The true war hasn’t yet started.’
By: Max Gelber, United with Israel
Sign the Petition to Unite Against Islamic Terror
Petition to the United States and World Powers:
We urge our leaders to reject all supporters of Islamic Terror. Do NOT join forces with Iran, Hamas and other extremists to fight ISIS. Unite with Your Friends - Not with Your Enemies.