Terror infrastructure dismantled in Ramallah
(JNS.org) The Israel Security Agency, in cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces, uncovered infrastructure of the Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist organization in the Ramallah area, Israel Hayom reported. The cell allegedly planned on abducting Israelis, according to documents recently released for publication.
Detained members from the uncovered cell admitted to planning an abduction of an Israeli to use as a bargaining chip for freeing PFLP leader Ahmed Sadaat, who has been in an Israeli prison since 2006 for planning and executing the assassination of then-Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze’evi in 2001.
The two main PFLP members arrested were the cell’s founder, Mahmoud Abu Ahram, 26, and Mehmed Anwar Mehmed Zaytoun, 26, recruited by Ahram. Both men are from Ramallah.
During their questioning, the two admitted to planning an abduction to get their group’s leader back. Ahram had contacted an arms dealer and attempted to procure two pistols and an automatic rifle. Ahram and Zaytoun had planned two possible abduction scenarios: One would be to fire on IDF troops at one point as a diversionary tactic and then attempt to abduct a soldier at a different location during the chaos; the other would be to abduct an Israeli civilian waiting to catch a ride at a bus stop.
Ahram and Zaytoun planned to take their abducted hostage to a safe house in the village Aqab, on the outskirts of Ramallah. They were indicted in the Judea and Samaria military court for conspiring to abduct a soldier and serving an illegal organization, and will be detained until the end of the legal proceedings against them.
Ancient temple, rare ritual tools discovered near Jerusalem
(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Archeologists got a rare glimpse of religious life in the days of Israel’s Judean kings when they discovered an ancient temple and tools apparently used in rituals around 2,750 years ago at the Tel Motza excavation site west of Jerusalem. The project, which is being managed by the Israel Antiquities Authority, began recently ahead of construction on part of Route 1 between Shaar Hagai and Jerusalem.
Anna Eirikh, Dr. Hamoudi Khalaily and Shua Kisilevitz, who are in charge of the project on behalf of the authority, pointed out that the shape of the ancient temple found at the site was unusual. “It is a rare find in light of the lack of other such discoveries dating back to the time of the Kingdom of Judah and the First Temple. The temple is also an outstanding find due to its proximity to Jerusalem, which served as the Judean kingdom’s ritual center at that time,” Eirikh said. “Among other items, pottery with male figures etched on them, one with a beard, were also found, though we are unsure as to their meaning.”
Tel Motza has been known as an important archeological area for some time. Many items have been discovered there dating from various ancient periods. At the beginning of the 1990s and 2000s the site was excavated as part of the work being done on Route 1. At that time, excavators asserted that the site was associated with the Biblical city of Motza, which is mentioned in the book of Isaiah as a city in the tribe of Benjamin, bordering the tribe of Judah.
Among the findings was a public structure, a large warehouse, and a large number of granaries.
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