3 Israelis Plead Guilty to Bomb Plot

No, not Jews.

Three Israeli Arabs pleaded guilty Sunday to planning to plant bombs on a commuter train track and discussing bombing Tel Aviv's Azrieli Towers, the tallest buildings in Israel.

The transcript in Tel Aviv court said Mujahed Dukan, 19, Amin Ziyuti, 20 and Dubian Nusseirat, 27, admitted plotting during the summer and fall of 2004, along with a group of Palestinians from the militant Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, to lay explosives on a railroad track at Netanya, north of the city.

The Azrieli towers, for those who do not know, are the Israeli equivalent of the Twin Towers and the Sears Tower in one. The devestation from such a blast would cripple Israel at a far larger rate than even the effect felt by the US from 9/11 - which has yet to truly subside.

The three men were arrested by Israeli security forces the day before they were due to take delivery of three bombs from militants in the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank city of Nablus.

Talk about cutting things close... but here's another important point:

Arabs make up about 20 percent of Israel's citizens. Though many have been radicalized by five years of violence between Israel and Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, including their relatives, few Israeli Arabs have taken an active part in the conflict.

Though their numbers are few, there have been Israeli Arabs who have participated in attacks, much as these three were planning to. Yet, Israel still allows them to be citizens of what is the only Jewish state in the world - to the point that 20% of the country is made up of Israeli Arabs. Jews, however, are not allowed full citizenship in any Arab country to my knowledge, and cannot even live in many: Most especially any territory that is controlled by the Palestinians. We've all seen the footage of what happens when a Jew wanders into Ramallah or Gaza, and it is sickening.

What's almost sadder is the last paragraph:

Prosecutors are seeking a 15 year jail term for Dukan -- who initiated contacts with the Nablus group -- and eight years for Nusseirat. Ziyuti's punishment is still under discussion, the court record said. Sentencing is set for Oct. 21.

Bomb plots aren't even life sentences? Eight years?! Thieves get far worse punishments half the time. Israel's justice system, while far more humane than anything the Palestinians do in their "judgements", is still nowhere near true justice. Sad.

Technorati tags: Israel, Arab, Bomb, Plot, Azrieli Towers.