Two residents of the southern Israeli town of Rahat were indicted Wednesday for allegedly being al-Qaeda operatives. Taher and Omar Abu-Sakut, who are registered members of the Islamic Movement, were arrested following a joint Shin Bet, police and Border Guard operation that took place in June. According to Shin Bet records, Taher abu-Sakut's interest in radical Islam began in 2006, when he became involved with the Islamic Movement. Soon after that, the Shin Bet says, he began surfing al-Qaeda-affiliated websites, as well as sites calling for the destruction of Israel. According to the indictment, he then contacted several al-Qaeda operatives and provided them information about the location of various IDF bases and strategic facilities in Israel, in a bid to promote the terror organization's plans to stage an attack in Israel. Taher reportedly gave his handlers information about the location of the Azrieli Towers in Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion International Airport, and various routes in the West Bank, through which terrorists might be able to infiltrate Israel.
Taher and Omar Aabu-Sakut were arrested in early June and reportedly confessed to the charges. The two were arraigned at the Beersheba District Court. The indictment against them includes charges of affiliation with a known terror organization, aiding and abetting an enemy at war, and providing the enemy with intelligence intended to undermine national security.