Fadel Tzaber Knaneh
Photo: Shin Bet
Israeli Arab indicted for sending money to ISIS fighter
Fadel Tzaber Knaneh was in contact with his brother, who fought with ISIS in Syria and was killed, and with another Israeli Arab, who convinced him to transfer NIS 5,000 to him in Iraq.
Fadel Tzaber Knaneh, a 25-year-old Israeli Arab from Yafa an-Naseriyye, was indicted on Monday for having had contact with ISIS fighters and transferring money to one of them.
A Shin Bet investigation found that Knaneh, an ideological supporter of ISIS, was in contact with his brother, Muhammad Knaneh, who left for Syria in 2014 to fight with ISIS and was killed in combat.
In 2016, another Israeli national, Muhammad Keilani, who is currently fighting with ISIS in either Syria or Iraq, contacted Knaneh to notify him about his brother's death.
Fadel Tzaber Knaneh (Photo: Shin Bet)
In March 2017, after telling Knaneh that he was injured in battle, Keilani asked Knaneh for money. Keilani transferred NIS 5,000 ($1,300) to the ISIS fighter in Iraq with the help of a moneychanger in Jenin and even called Keilani to make sure he received the money.
Knaneh was arrested on March 2, 2017, in a joint operation of the Shin Bet and Israel Police.
The Shin Bet said in a statement on Monday: "The Shin Bet views with utmost gravity contacts between Israeli citizens and terrorist elements, which constitute a serious threat to the security of the State of Israel and the peace of its citizens. Transferring funds to terrorists abroad abets the perpetration of attacks; therefore, the Shin Bet will continue to use all means at its disposal to counter this threat and deal with those involved to the fullest extent of the law."
