Dentistry Today: Dentist by Profession – Terrorist by Avocation

Galilee dentists arrested over suspicions of Hamas activity.

Security forces have arrested two Israeli Arabs from the Galilee on suspicion of joining Hamas in the 1990s while studying dentistry in Romania, and then carrying out assignments for the armed group, police and the Shin Bet security service said Sunday.

The suspects, from Nazareth and Kafr Manda, allegedly met with Hamas agents in Romania and went to Turkey for training in covert operations before returning to Israel. They are also suspected of giving Hamas information meant to help it carry out terror attacks.

Haifa District prosecutors plan to charge the suspects – Nazmi Hassin from Nazareth and Abdel Salam Zidan from Kafr Manda – with assisting the enemy in wartime and making contact with foreign agents. Prosecutors will also ask that the suspects be jailed until the end of proceedings against them.

Sleeper, covert terrorist agents involved with surveillance are not commonly associated with dentistry.

A good cover?

Flap wouldn’t think so.

But, the opportunity for Israeli Arabs to travel freely within Israel and to leave the country for continuing education and training (terrorist or not) might make them attractive for recruitment.

Flap cannot imagine treating patients in the morning and then travelling around looking for bombing targets at lunchtime.

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