Conspirators of foiled 2004 railway attack given lengthy jail terms

The Tel Aviv District Court sentenced 30-year-old Dubian Nazirath of Tayibe to nine years in prison Sunday, after finding him guilty of conspiracy and aiding and abetting an enemy.

Nazirath, along with Mujahid Dukan (21) and Amir Zayoti – also from Tayibe – was convicted of planning an attack on a railway stations in Netanya and the Tel Aviv Azrieli Center in 2004. 

Dukan and Zayoti were sentenced to seven and 15 years in prison last week.

The three were convicted of planning the attacks some two-and-a-half years ago and were convicted, by their own admission, as part of a plea agreement.

According to the case file, in early 2004 a known, wanted Palestinian gunman contacted Dukan – a former resident of the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, who was granted Israeli citizenship.

The man arranged a meeting between Dukan and Ahmed Kasey, another wanted gunman, during which Kasey asked Dukan to smuggle three explosive devices into Israel and use them to carry out attacks in Israeli cities.

At this point, Zayoti signed on and he and Dukan set out to rent a car in order to transport the devices from Tayibe to Netanya. According to the prosecution, Zayoti was the one who suggested targeting the Azrieli Center  in Tel Aviv.

Dukan then met with Nazirath, who asked for one of the devices in exchange for his cooperation.

On October 5, 2004, Dukan contacted Kasey to inquire after the explosives. Several days later he received words that they were ready for him.

Dukan's plan to smuggle the explosive devices into Israel fell through as security forces arrested him just one day before he carried out his plan.