The family
Arab-Israeli family feared to have joined ISIS
Parents and three kids reportedly called family to Israel from Turkey, said they intended to join ISIS in Syria; Security source says some 40 Arab-Israelis have joined ISIS.
As reports expand that Islamic State (ISIS) militants are moving closer to Druze villages in Syria, concern has been growing recently that family with three children from Sakhnin in Israel's north have traveled to Turkey with the intention of crossing the border into Syria and joining the extremist group known for beheading captives.
The parents are said to be in their 30s and those familiar with family members said they had called from Turkey and said they planned on joining ISIS in Syria. It was still unclear Tuesday whether they had in fact crossed the border.
The father and two children in the family suspected of trying to join ISIS in Syria.
According to family members, the couple and their three children originally flew to Romania to the university graduation of a family member before deciding to fly to Turkey.
Four members of the family flew to Turkey recently to find the family and convince them to return home to Israel, but it is not yet known if they managed to make contact.
"We still don't know if they managed to infiltrate (Syria) and everyone's hoping that they come back to the family's embrace," said an acquaintance of the couple. "At the moment we're trying to figure out if they infiltrated Syria or if they're still in Turkey."
The couple reportedly traveled to Romania before going to Turkey.
Sakhnin's mayor Mazin G'Nayem said Tuesday that, "We were very surprised from the couple's decision. These are respectable people and they don't lack anything. The husband works and in organized; it's too bad that he makes these kinds of decisions. We are against Arab civilians joining organizations like ISIS. Our religion is different than their criminal actions."
G'Nayem added that an emergency meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Arab Citizens of Israel will discuss the issue on Saturday.
An Arab-Israel living in the Galilee region said, "I think Arab citizens in the country are working hard to bring youth into ISIS. We have to reach those people and punish them. They are dragging other people to be in terrorist organizations that threaten their lives and destroy families. Animals don't do what ISIS does."
Security sources said that they are aware of the situation and that, "Over the last year-and-a-half, 40 Arab-Israelis joined ISIS."
