Shin Bet exposes terrorist cell in Judea and Samaria

Israeli security forces recently arrested six Palestinians suspected of several terrorist attacks, the Shin Bet security agency revealed Monday. They were arrested in a joint operation by the Israel Defense Forces, the Shin Bet, and the Judea and Samaria District Police.

The six, identified as Mahmad Arhim Naif Satuf, 22, Basel Khaled a-Rauf Rimawi, 20, Wasim Eilan Osama Halabi, 19, Mahmoud Amil Ghasem Rimawi, 19, Mahmad Namer Mohammed Dar Satuf, 23, and Mahmad Fahr Nashaat Dar Taah, 20 -- all residents of the Palestinian village of Beit Rima -- are suspected of throwing pipe-bombs and Molotov cocktails at the settlement of Halamish and the Elisha pre-military academy, north of Ramallah, in January and February 2015.

According to information released by the Shin Bet, the cell assembled firebombs using scrap pipes and firecrackers, and used a vehicle owned by Satuf to carry out at least five attacks. The vehicle has been confiscated by the police.

The Shin Bet statement noted the suspects' arrests followed the arrest of other terrorist rings operating in the Binyamin sector in Samaria.

The cell's arrest, the statement said, "Underscores the threat posed by the activities of such local [terrorist] cells, and the high motivation their members have to carry out terrorist attacks."

The suspects are scheduled to be indicted before the Judea Military Court in the coming days. The military prosecution plans to motion for their remand pending the conclusion of all legal proceedings.