An Israeli court on Monday sentenced an Israeli Arab citizen to 22 months in prison for joining the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

Arrested upon his return in April, Ahmed Shurbaji, a 23-year- old resident of the northern town of Um Al-Fahm, was convicted of illegally entering Syria in January and taking part in banned military training with the IS.

In Syria, Shurbaji joined a rebel force, called the "Army of Mohammed," and was recruited by the IS a week later, according to the verdict by the Haifa District Court.

It was the first time an Israeli citizen was convicted of being related to the IS, a Jihadist group which has attracted scores of Muslims around the world to fight with it in Syria and Iraq.

"Israeli citizens who join the jihad in Syria pose a genuine threat, because they could use their military and ideological training against Israel," the court said.

In October, Israel's Security Service, the Shin Bet, said an Israeli Arab physician had been killed fighting for the IS, and that some 30 Israeli citizens had traveled to Syria to fight with Jihadist groups.

Arab citizens, who make up about 20 percent of the Israeli population, often sympathized with the national goals of their Palestinian counterparts in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, but rarely turn to violence. Endi

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)