Israeli-Arab who joined Islamist movement in Syria dies in American airstrike
Khalil Salakh a-Sayeed left Israel three years ago to join an anti-Bashar al-Assad Islamist organization.
By YASSER OKBI/ MAARIV HASHAVUAUpdated: MARCH 13, 2016 18:26Halil Salakh a-Sayeed left Israel three years ago to join an anti-Bashar al-Assad Islamist organization(photo credit: PALESTINIAN MEDIA)
An Israeli-Arab from Umm el-Fahm who joined a Syrian Islamist movement died recently in an American airstrike, according to El-Arab news agency.Khalil Salakh a-Sayeed left Israel three years ago to join an anti-Bashar al-Assad Islamist organization. Sayeed, also known as Abu Kasim, left behind a wife and baby boy in Israel.It is not currently known which Islamist militant organization Sayeed joined.Recently, Israel has seen a rise in Islamic ideological influence in Beduin and Arab communities. In November, Israeli authorities announced the arrest of a group of Arab citizens from Jaljulya who allegedly made plans to enlist in the ranks of the Islamic State in Syria.In a separate incident in July, six men, including four school teachers from Beduin communities in Southern Israel, were arrested for allegedly supporting ISIS and using their positions to dispense propaganda to students.They were charged with a range of crimes, including distribution of illegal material, support for a terrorist organization and conspiracy to illegally exit Israel.