- Five Israeli Jews were arrested and released in recent
weeks on suspicion of planning an attack on Temple Mount mosques, with
the intention of disrupting the disengagement plan, Jerusalem Police and
the Shin Bet security service revealed Monday.
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- The five, members of a group identified with the Bratslav
Hasidic movement, were part of one of two separate plots by Jewish extremists
to attack the Mount, in the Old City of Jerusalem, that were foiled by
the defense establishment.
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- They were freed with limitations, and will not face charges
on the grounds that they had been unable to implement their plan and had
decided not to carry it out. However, sources in the police and the Shin
Bet said there was not enough evidence to charge them. The Shin Bet was
also reportedly concerned that a trial would require them to reveal sources.
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- The group, which was held for three weeks and released
before Passover, is suspected of planning to fire a Lau anti-tank missile
at the Mount and then to commit suicide.
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- According to the Shin Bet, suspect Avtalion Kadosh, 21,
from Jerusalem, approached 23-year-old Eyal Karamani from Rehovot, to help
him carrying out the attack. Kadosh also asked Karamani to approach the
criminal underworld in a bid to obtain the weapons. He also involved his
brother, Akiva Kadosh, 25, who later changed his mind and refused to cooperate
with the others.
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- Kadosh told police during questioning that his goal was
"to create a third intifada and a war with the Arab countries that
would stop disengagement and lead to the transfer of the Arabs."
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- Israel Radio said the five suspects toured the area near
the Temple Mount to find a convenient place from which to fire the missile,
finally deciding on the roof of a yeshiva near the Mount. They were then
to throw hand grenades at security forces who arrived at the scene, before
shooting themselves.
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- When they realized they would not be able to obtain the
necessary funds or know-how to carry out the attacks, they allegedly approached
Elior Chen, 26, of Upper Beitar, who suggested they take a loan from the
bank, and promised to connect them with army veterans who would show them
how to use the weapons.
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- Another man, Ilan Hirschfeld, 61, from Ra'anana was detained
over an alleged plan to fly a model aircraft fitted with a camera over
the Mount and over Arab population areas as a provocation. He was released
a few hours later, and no charges were filed.
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- In response to the reports, MK Uri Ariel (National Union)
said, "This is a clear attempt to stain a loyal and law-abiding community
struggling justly and fairly for its values."
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- The chairman of the National Union Knesset faction, Zvi
Hendel, accused the Shin Bet of planting an agent provocateur, as it had
done with Avishai Raviv prior to the assassination of prime minister Yitzhak
Rabin.
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- MK Zahava Gal-On (Yahad) said the police should relate
more seriously to warnings of plots like the one made public Monday. MK
Abdulmalik Dehamshe (United Arab List) warned Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
that he would not be able to shirk responsibility if Jewish extremists
harmed the mosques and ignited a conflagration.
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- http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/576711.html
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