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Israel charges six Palestinians over alleged abduction plot

Xinhua, January 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

Israel charged on Thursday six Palestinians over alleged plot to abduct and kill an Israeli in order to negotiate the release of Palestinian prisoners, a military spokesperson said in a statement.

The alleged "terror cell" included six members, three from Hebron and three from Jerusalem, said the spokesperson.

They were arrested in December in a joint operation by Israel's Shin Bet security service, the police, and the military.

According to indictments filed Thursday with a Jerusalem court, the suspects admitted planning the attack and examining caves in the area of Hebron in order to hide the victim's body.

The military identified Maher Kawasme, 36, from Hebron as the head of the cell. He was previously convicted of planning an attack on behalf of the Hamas.

The suspects also reportedly admitted to hold meetings in Hebron to plan other attacks, and Kawasme taught them how to make explosive devices.

The charges were made amidst a three-month-long wave of violence, which has claimed the lives of at least 132 Palestinians, 23 Israelis and a U.S. citizen.

Also on Thursday, Israeli security officials said that the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is making increasing effort to halt the attacks, which includes nearly daily attempts to stab Israelis, mainly soldiers, or to carry out shooting and vehicular attacks.

According to a report in Israel's Ha'aretz newspaper, security agencies said that the Palestinian National Authority has been deploying security personnel in flashpoint sites, reducing anti-Israeli publication on official media, and arresting Hamas military activists.

Israel has been accusing the Palestinian Authority of "inciting" the recent wave of lone-wolf attacks, while the Palestinians say the violence is a result of 49 years of Israeli control of their lands. Endit