Israeli Arab group claims responsibility for J'lem shooting
'The Free People of Galilee', organization responsible for kidnapping and murdering of IDF soldier Oleg Shaichat, says in statement its members were behind Friday's shooting incident in capital; Israeli sources reject report, say it is likely terrorist acted on his own
In a statement published on the Palestinian news agency Maan, a spokesman for the group said that its members were behind the incident, in which an Israeli Arab from the Galileee snatched a security guard's weapon and was killed in an exchange of fire with another guard.
Defense establishment officials rejected the report, noting that a number of organizations had already claimed responsibility for the incident.
Israel's security organizations believe that the Free People of the Galilee group no longer exists and that the terrorist acted on his own and was not affiliated with any organization.
Ten people were injured in Friday's shooting. On Sunday the police released a surveillance video documenting the incident.
The organization's statement said, "The act was aimed at avenging the assassination of the shahid (martyr) Muhammad Khatib of Kfar Manda on April 18, 2004."
Muhammad Khatib, according to the defense establishment, is the man who murdered IDF soldier Oleg Shaichat. He was shot and killed by security forces when the terror cell was seized more than three years ago.
The terrorist who carried out the attack on Friday was identified as Ahmad Mahmoud Khatib, also a resident of Kfar Manda.
The statement added that "this is not the first act of its kind" and that the Palestinian organizations who claimed responsibility for the shooting earlier – the Islamic Jihad, Fatah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – had nothing to do with the incident.
Who are 'Free People of Galilee'?
Five members of the Free People of the Galilee were indicted on June 2004. The terror cell was defined by defense establishment officials as "one of the most dangerous cells we have encountered".
The cell members were residents of Kfar Qana and Kfar Manda. They were accused of plotting to carry out a severe crime, being active in a terrorist organization, attempted kidnapping, etc.
Shortly afterwards, one of the group members, 20-year-old Muhammad Anbetawi of Kfar Qana, was indicted for kidnapping and murdering Corporal Oleg Shaichat. Muhammad Khatib, who was also involved in the murder, was killed as the cell was captured.
Muhammad Khatib's brother was behind the stabbing of a soldier at the Golani Junction on July 2004. He claimed that the attack was aimed at avenging his brother's killing.
The same organization also claimed responsibility for the murder of 27-year-old security guard Katie David of Netanya. The woman's body was discovered in a grove and investigators found indications of severe violence on her upper body. An investigation later revealed that the organization was not behind the murder.
Sharon Roffe-Ofir and Efrat Weiss contributed to the report
