Israeli Arab accused of Daesh terror plot

AN ISRAELI Arab citizen has been accused of plotting to blow up an Tel Aviv bus with the help of terror group Daesh.

Anas Haj Yehiye was arrested last month but his name and details of the charges against him were only released this week.

The Shin Bet security service in Israel said there was evidence he had “been in contact with Daesh operatives and had disseminated both extremist material and knowledge regarding the production of explosives”.

An investigation found Haj Yehiye had intended to create a Daesh cell in Israel with the aim of recruiting others and committing acts of terrorism.

“Haj Yehiye was asked to initiate a bus attack in Tel Aviv and against IDF soldiers but the plans were never realised,” said the Shin Bet.

“He swore allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr-al-Baghdadi and had considered going to Syria in order to join in the fighting.”

The Shin Bet believes at least 50 Arab Israelis have travelled to Iraq and Syria to join Daesh in recent years, but it is unusual for terror recruits in Israel to plan attacks at home.