JERUSALEM, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Israeli security forces said on Sunday that an Arab citizen of Israel was charged with links to the Islamic State.
The suspect was identified as Muhammad Ahmed Azzam, a 24-year-old resident of Kafr Manda, a town in the northern district. He was indicted by the State Attorney in the Haifa District Court.
According to Israel's Shin Bet security service, Azzam was in contact with IS militants and supporters. "He was making preparations to join the organization and the fighting," the Shin Bet said in a statement.
Azzam was arrested on June 6 by the police and the Shin Bet, after an investigation found that he "supports the IS idea, followed IS propaganda online and made tangible preparations to leave for the combat zone in order to join the ranks of IS fighters."
Before his arrest, Azzam was in online contact with several IS fighters who were assisting him in his preparations, according to the Shin Bet.
Over the past years, dozens of Arab Israelis were arrested and underwent legal proceedings under suspicion that they have gone to Syria, or planned to do so, in order to join the IS.
