Shin Bet: 5 Bedouin Israelis charged with throwing rocks at Jewish drivers

Five Bedouin Israeli men have been arrested and indicted for hurling stones at vehicles in southern Israel, injuring two, law enforcement authorities say.

In a joint statement, Israel Police and the Shin Bet security agency say the five youths, of the Abu Madi clan near the southern city of Beersheba, threw stones at vehicles on Route 25 on a number of occasions.

Officials say the men carried out the highway attacks “with a racist and nationalistic motive… with the aim of harming Jews.”

According to the police and Shin Bet investigation, the five would observe cars driving toward Beersheba near the Abu Talul junction, and attack those they identified being driven by Jewish Israelis.

As a result of their attacks, two people were wounded, including a pregnant woman, and a number of cars were damaged, police say.

The five, arrested in May, are charged with intentionally causing damage under aggravated and racially motivated circumstances, as well as obstruction of justice. Three of the suspects are additionally hit with terror charges and racially motivated aggravated assault.