Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — The Iranian-sponsored Islamic Jihad has formed a cell to
abduct Israelis.

The Israel Security Agency said Jihad recruited Palestinians and Israeli
Arabs to identify and abduct Israelis. The agency said cell members were
ordered to disguise themselves as Jews and offer hitches to civilians and
soldiers around Israel and the West Bank.

“An attempt by Islamic Jihad to kidnap a soldier or an Israeli citizen
was foiled by ISA special forces and police,” the agency said.

In a statement on Feb. 3, the agency, responsible for Israeli domestic
intelligence, said four alleged Jihad members were arrested on Jan. 1. They were identified as two Palestinians from the northern West Bank city of Jenin and two Israeli Arab citizens from Qalansawe and Umm Al Fahm.

ISA said the cell used a car equipped with Jewish skullcaps and a mock
gun for abductions. The agency identified Anes Jabarin, an Israeli, as the liasion with a Jihad operative abroad.

Three of the suspects were said to have confessed to the abduction plot. ISA said cell members repeatedly failed to coax Jews to enter the car that
offered hitchers a ride around central Israel.

“The affair illustrates once again the intention of terrorist
organizations to abduct Israelis to use as a bargaining chip in prisoner
release negotiations, with the active involvement of terrorists already in
Israeli prisons,” ISA said.

ISA said the Jihad cell was ordered to take any Israeli captive to
Jenin. The cell’s vehicle was driven by an Israeli citizen in an effort to
pass Israel Army roadblocks.

“Terrorist organizations are continuing to try and use Israeli Arabs to
further their cause, taking advantage of the freedom of movement enabled by
their Israeli nationality,” ISA said.

  Intel alert: Terrorists disguised as Jews attempting to abduct Israelis, Islamic Jihad, Israel Security Agency, Jenin, West Bank