Ahmed Shurbaji
Arab Israeli indicted for training with ISIS
Ahmed, Shurbaji, from Umm al-Fahm, had travelled to Syria – through Turkey – in January, aiding Syrian rebels in a number of roles.
Ahmed Shurbaji, a 23-year-old resident of Umm al-Fahm, was convicted of illegally entering Syria and partaking in banned military training, including with the militant group ISIS. The defense said that the court had no jurisdiction on the matter, claiming it was selectively enforcing the law.
Shurbaji's defense attorney dismissed the charge on military training because "there is no practical authority for an Israeli court to try the accused, since the military training was conducted in Syria and was not harmful to the security of the state. The military training was undertaken to assist the rebels fight the regime of a rival state."
The court accepted the position of the prosecutor, ruling that "leaving to take part in military training in any rival nation, in general, and in Syria, in particular, under the authority of ISIS specifically, presents a security offense which carries great danger to the defense of Israel."
Ahmed Shurbaji
It was further noted that the cross-border traffic of Arab-Israelis fighting in Syria and returning home, carries significant potential risk for the state in a number of respects – use of advanced knowledge, import of ideology, import of military experience and capabilities, strengthening the ties between militants and global jihadi groups, and incitement to act against Israel.
Thus, the court ruled that "even a potential risk fulfills the necessary conditions. A country on defense should not wait until a risk goes from potential to actual."
According to the indictment served to the court on May 14 by a Haifa prosecutor, the suspect and three associates left Israel and infiltrated into Syria from Turkey to connect with rebel forces and help their fight against the Assad regime.
Shurbaji left on January 16, while the other three left to Turkey separately to avoid raising suspicions.
After entering Syria, the suspect and his associates joined an armed rebel group called "Jaish Muhammad" and underwent physical training at their base for a week; they were later recruited into ISIS.
During the suspect's stay in Syria, he also took part in military training for around a week, with a variety of weapons and rifles. He also took part in religious courses to spiritually prepare for future battles.
Shurbaji played a role in several of the group's fights: he discharged his weapon, stood guard at roadblocks, and joined military patrols to halt the advance of Assad's forces.
On April 20, the suspect returned to Israel, landing at Ben Gurion Airport, where he was arrested.
