Israel arrests 6 for supporting IS

Jerusalem 

Israel has arrested six Bedouin Arabs, including four teachers, for allegedly supporting the extremist Islamic State group, the domestic security service said today.

The six men, all members of the same family, were relatives of two people who already travelled to Syria to fight alongside jihadists, Israeli media said.

Around 30 Arab Israelis have already made their way to Syria to fight for Islamist groups against President Bashar al-Assad's regime in the country's more than four-year civil war, according to the authorities.

The men met "in secret to study the doctrine of Islamic State", a statement from the Shin Bet intelligence agency said, adding they had intended to "spread the ideology of this group among their family and friends," and that some had wanted to travel to Syria.

It did not give further details, including the date of their arrest.

Several Arab Israelis have been arrested after returning from Syria, and convicted for attempts to join Syrian rebels.

IS purportedly executed an Arab Israeli in March who had gone to join the group, accusing him of being an Israeli spy.

Arab Israelis number around 1.4 million, just over 20 per cent of Israel's population.