Missing Israeli students suspected of infiltrating Syria
Arab Israeli from north Israel has not contacted his family in two weeks; relatives suspect he may have entered Syria so as to join rebel forces
An Israeli Arab in his 20s living in Israel's north has been missing for some two weeks and according to sources familiar with the family, "he called his relatives and told them he was going to Turkey in order to infiltrate Syria and join the rebels to fight against Assad's forces."
The young man is currently studying medicine abroad, but friends studying with him said they had no knowledge of his whereabouts. "We're all surprised," a friend said. "This is a religious man, dignified and quiet. We always hear nothing but good things about him. We hope he will return to his family soon."
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His family members have launched a search and informed the Foreign Ministry of his disappearance.
The ministry reported that "some two weeks ago a message came in from a family living in the western Galilee saying they have lost all contact with their son who is studying abroad. His entrance into Syria will be looked into by other sources."
So far it is known that three Israeli Arabs – two Tayibe residents in their 20s and another man from Kfar Qassem in his 30s – have crosse into Syria and have yet to return. .
Last month, Hikmat Masrawa, 29, from Tayibe, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for infiltrating Syria via Turkey and joining rebel ranks.
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