Ramallah: Two teenagers from Tel Aviv have been detained in connection with the January bombing of the Syedna Ali Mosque in Herzliya.
According to Israel's internal security, 19-year-old Liad Ohana and a 16-year-old boy, who were not named, were indicted on several counts, including committing a terrorist act, setting fire to property and using a weapon in a terrorist attack. act. is included. Agency Shin Bet.
Additionally, it was said that the two originally intended to kill an Arab civilian, "but they abandoned the idea and decided to attack a mosque." Later, the statement claimed a rise in nationalism, which "threatens the security of the state".
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The Shin Bet stated that the two suspects were clearly involved in the crime for which they were held responsible during the Shin Bet's investigation, and that the evidence gathered suggested that the attempt to burn down the mosque was motivated by nationalism.
The article said that the teenagers decided to attack a mosque in the deserted village of Haram, near the city of Herzliya, after seeing mosques in the Tel Aviv area.
In its arrest request, the Public Prosecution informed the court that the two suspects "made incendiary Molotov cocktails to carry out the plan to set fire to the mosque."
The defendants' plan would have resulted in the mosque being set on fire, which, according to the Shin Bet, would have led to an increase in violent crimes in Israeli society.
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Political analyst Jalal Banna told Arab News that statements made by Israel's Minister of Internal Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Bezalel Smotrich had given Jewish extremists the confidence to conduct terrorist attacks against Arabs.
"It gives them legitimacy to exact revenge on the Arabs and it becomes part of the policy of the Israeli government which is led by extremists," he said.
Banna cited a petition that members of the hawkish Knesset submitted on Thursday to Defense Minister Yoav Galant requesting the release of Jewish extremists responsible for burning Palestinian homes and vehicles in Havara on February 26.
He claimed that during the coming month of Ramadan, Israeli Arabs were constantly worried about retribution.
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Yousef Jabrin, a former Arab member of the Israeli parliament, claimed to Arab News that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich's statements insulting Arabs gave Jewish extremists a license to commit terrorist acts.
He claimed, "Dozens of terrorist crimes have been committed against Arabs by Jewish extremists, including burning cars and trees, attacking holy sites, and physically assaulting people."