ISIS claims to have captured Israeli Arab from Jerusalem working with Mossad
The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed Thursday that it had captured an Israeli Arab from Jerusalem who was recruited by the Israeli Mossad. The story could not be corroborated and verified with other sources.
If it is true, it would mark the first time that such an accusation has been leveled. Over the past two years there have been numerous reports of Israeli Arabs who illegally entered Syria via Turkey and joined ISIS or other radical jihadi groups fighting against the Assad regime or the government in Iraq. The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) estimates that there are a few dozen Israels on the battlefield of the two countries. A few of them defected from ISIS or for other reasons returned to Israel and were arrested, charged and in some cases already indicted and given prison terms. There have also been reports of one or two Israeli Arabs who have been killed in battle.
Recently, Shin Bet exposed an effort by a few Israeli Arabs, led by a lawyer, to establish a secret ISIS cell in Israel.
According to the English-language ISIS magazine, Dabiq, the name of the Mossad spy is Said Ismahil Muslam. He is 19 years old and in an “interview” published in the magazine – an organ of the media and digital house of ISIS – he said that he had been recruited by his Jewish neighbor, a police officer.
“He came to me one day and asked if I want to work for the Israeli intelligence,” confessed Muslam in the interview, which undoubtedley was forced upon him. “I told him that I would think about his offer.”
Later, the police officer met with his father and brother. “I was encouraged by them who told me that it would be a good job with plenty of money. At this stage I realized that the two of them were also Israeli spies”.
According to the “interview” confession, Mossad officers by the name of Eli and Miro approached him and became his case officers and handlers. “I was told to be sent to Syria. I was put in a house, paid a monthly salary of NIS 5000 while they took care of my daily needs and of the documents I would be using.” He said that he was trained in an Israeli intelligence facility which he named as “Anatot” in east Jerusalem for one month. His training included the use of weapons, communication and how to stand during an investigation.
He also said that his mission was to penetrate ISIS and collect information about weapons warehouses, especially those where rockets are stored, and to identify Palestinians from the West Bank who also joined ISIS.
According to the magazine, Muslam was captured because one of his “Amirs” (commanders) suspected his behavior which didn’t fit into the pattern of other devoted volunteers. At a certain stage, fearing that he was exposed, he asked to be allowed to go home, but his commanders said “its too late now” and detained him.
It is worth noting that the flow of volunteers from all over the world to ISIS also opens opportunities for security services to plant their spies.
Unfortunately, after this public confession it is most likely that the “spy” will be executed.
BY YOSSI MELMAN
JPOST.COM
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