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Photo: Yariv Katz
Altouri in court
Photo: Yariv Katz

Israeli-Arab planned to abduct soldiers

Court convicts Israeli-Arab citizen Lenin Altouri of agreeing to aid Hamas, receiving funds from organization in exchange for abducting soldiers. Defendant's attorney claims Altouri was set up by Shin Bet agent in Gaza Strip

The Tel Aviv District Court convicted Sunday 24-year-old israeli-Arab Lenin Altouri from the village of Kfar Kasem on charges of holding contact with a foreign agent and intent to betray the country.

 

Altouri pleaded guilty to all charges as part of a plea bargain.

 

According to the amended indictment, during phone conversations held in March and April 2004 between Altouri and his uncle As'ad Mahmad Khalil Taha, a resident of the Gaza refugee camp Nuzirat and a Hamas member, Taha has told his nephew about recent incidents in the Gaza Strip, and asked him to assist the organization.

 

Altouri agreed, and said he was willing to do whatever it takes in order to help Hamas.

 


Altouri. 'Anything to help Hamas.' (Photo: Yariv Katz)

 

Taha had asked Altouri to abduct soldiers and deliver them to Hamas in Hebron or Ramallah. The nephew replied that he needed money in order to carry out the kidnappings, and Taha asked him for a bank account number to which he could transfer the funds.

 

Taha later changed his mind about the bank transaction and explained to his young relative that it was too dangerous. He instead put Altouri in touch with a man who gave him the money - NIS 2,000 (USD 430) in cash.

 

In April 2004, Altouri approached two of his neighbors at the village and offered them to join him in carrying out the abductions in exchange for some of the money Hamas had paid. The two refused.

 

Uncle a Shin Bet agent?

 

By taking these actions, Altouri knowingly held contacts with a foreign agent in a bid to harm the country's national security, and carried out an act indicating his intent to support the enemy in its fight against Israel, the indictment stated.

 

Altouri was also convicted of aiding to commit manslaughter and of criminal weapon charges, after he agreed to help assault a man over his involvement in a financial dispute.

 

Lenin Altouri was arrested last summer by police and the Shin Bet after security forces received information he had contacted Hamas in Gaza through a family member. His arrest in effect foiled the abduction plan.

 

Altouri's attorney Ehud Ben Yahuda said, "This is a special case in which the defendant was recruited by his uncle, who is a physician known to the Shin Bet, and whom Altouri's father claims to be a Shin Bet agent. In light of this, and the fact that the abduction plan never materialized, the offense is a minor one."

 

Prosecutor Maayan Ben Ari said rejected accusations that Altouri's uncle was a Shin Bet agent, adding that the prosecution looked into the matter carefully.

 

Since the two sides failed to reach an agreement regarding the sentence, the court is expected to rule in the next few weeks.

 

Hanan Greenberg contributed to the report

 


פרסום ראשון: 12.04.05, 12:34
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