Thursday, April 30, 2009

Israel arrests seven on kidnap charges

Date: 30 / 04 / 2009 Time: 14:15

[Ma'anImages]
Bethlehem – Ma’an/Agencies – Seven Palestinian citizens of Israel have been arrested on charges of planning to kidnap Israeli soldiers during the recent war against Gaza.

Israel’s military censor prohibited media from releasing the information until Thursday.

The indictments against the suspects include charges of “aiding the enemy during wartime,” contacting a foreign agent, conspiracy, and weapons charges, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

According to authorities, during searches of the suspects’ homes in northern Israel, police found “nine explosive belts ready to be detonated.”

The suspects were reportedly in contact with a Palestinian in Gaza who encouraged them to carry out attacks.

Israeli forces killed more than 1,400 Palestinians during the three-week offensive in Gaza.