Shin Bet Declined to Investigate Bar Ilan Lecturer Planning Mass Arab Attacks

The Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency, reportedly declined to investigate a Bar Ilan University lecturer accused of planning for years to carry out large-scale terrorist attacks targeting hundreds of Arab and Palestinian citizens. The lecturer, who possessed a licensed weapon and took practical steps towards implementing his plan, was only briefly questioned by the Shin Bet before the case was transferred to the police. This occurred despite the agency's responsibility for thwarting and investigating "Jewish terrorism." Sources familiar with the case told "Haaretz" that the Shin Bet's handling of the matter was "very lukewarm" from the outset, with senior officials allegedly instructing agents not to get involved, even during the search of the lecturer's home. The lecturer's detailed plans, including a list of targets and recruitment strategies, were found in a handwritten notebook. The investigation revealed the lecturer attempted to contact Moshe Feiglin, head of the Zehut party, seeking to enlist activists for his plot, which he called "Eit," meaning "the people will carry out the cleansing." Feiglin claimed he discarded the message without reading it, later filing a complaint with the police. The police, meanwhile, were also slow to act, despite the case's severity and connections to public figures. The indictment accuses the lecturer of planning synchronized attacks using various weapons, aiming to kill large numbers of Arab citizens, displace survivors, and seize control of Arab towns and roads. The plan involved establishing 12 cells with 72 Jewish operatives, many of whom were licensed gun owners. The lecturer also conducted reconnaissance near the town of Touba Zangariyye and sought support from individuals in right-wing circles, former security officials, and media personalities. The police and prosecution did not deem it necessary to investigate others the lecturer met, though his daughter and a friend who delivered a message to Feiglin's party were questioned. The prosecution described the plan as based on extremist nationalist ideology and requested the lecturer remain in custody due to the high risk he posed.