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Galilee men charged with plotting attack on Temple Mount

Prosecutors say the suspects planned a Ramadan attack on security forces.

Israel Border Police officers visit the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, March 7, 2024. Photo by Jamal Awad/Flash90.
Israel Border Police officers visit the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, March 7, 2024. Photo by Jamal Awad/Flash90.

The Haifa District Attorney’s Office filed charges on Friday against two residents of northern Israel, accusing them of planning a violent assault on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount and seeking affiliation with a terrorist organization operating in Judea and Samaria.

The men—identified as Nur Shabat from Nahf, 14 miles east of Acre, and Amir Kiwan from nearby Deir al-Asad—were apprehended after a collaborative investigation led by the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the Israel Police.

Authorities allege that Shabat tried to establish contact with members of the Tulkarem Brigades, a known terrorist group, and explored the possibility of joining their ranks. He allegedly tried to enlist Kiwan’s help in organizing a stabbing attack aimed at Israeli security personnel during Ramadan in 2024.

Law enforcement officials highlighted the significant danger posed by citizens engaging in extremist plots and reaffirmed the agencies’ dedication to thwarting threats to public safety.

Joshua Marks is a news editor on the Jerusalem desk at JNS.org, where he covers Jewish affairs, the Middle East and global news.
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