Israeli Arab resident of Jerusalem charged with planning gun attack

An indictment filed on Thursday at a Jerusalem district court revealed that a 25-year-old Israeli Arab from the city's neighborhood of Ras el-Amud was arrested in the beginning of October and now faces a series of charges including planning a gun attack against Israeli civilians and security forces; assaulting policemen; throwing firebombs, firecrackers and stones; supporting a terrorist organization; incitement; and manufacturing and carrying of weapons. Muhammad Abbasi, a backer of Hamas, was arrested after he supported and encouraged those who carry out terrorist attacks in Israel. Abbasi admitted under questioning that he tried to acquire a weapon and explosives in order to perpetrate an attack in the capital. The court ruled that Abbasi is to remain in custody until the completion of the legal proceedings against him.