Israeli Arab indicted for joining al-Qaeda jihadists in Syria

An Israeli Arab man was indicted in Haifa Thursday for joining the Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nursa.

Amin Ahmed Salah Snobar, 24, from Kfar Yasif in northern Israel, was arrested by Shin Bet and Israeli Police after attempting to return to Israel from Syria in early January.

After his arrest, Snobar confessed to Shin Bet interrogators that he traveled to Syria via Turkey last year to join rebels fighting the Assad regime, Channel 2 reported.

According to the indictment, Snobar joined Syria’s al-Nusra Front in August, and received military training for several weeks. The Shin Bet said Snobar received weapons and bomb-making training and underwent physical fitness programs before coordinating logistical missions for the militant group.

Snobar was indicted in the Haifa District Court on charges of joining an illegal organization, conspiracy to commit a crimes, illegally leaving the country and obstruction of justice.

Snobar is not the first Israeli Arab to be arrested for ties with jihadist groups.

On January 4, the Shin Bet announced that an Islamic State cell was uncovered in the West Bank. Two weeks later Israel’s security service arrested seven Israeli Arabs for setting up an Islamic State cell inside Israel.

The Shin Bet and police believe that more than 30 Israeli Arabs have joined the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.