March 21st, 2006

BACKGROUND INFORMATION [provided by IDF Spokesperson's Office]

Attributed to "security sources"

Summary of indictments served today against two 'Al-Qaeda' terrorists

Today, March 21st 2006, an indictment was served to the military court in
Samaria against Azam Abu Al'aads and Ba'lal Hafnaui, both residents of
Nablus, born in 1986. The two are charged with conspiring to intentionally
cause death, active membership in the 'Al-Qaeda' terror organization,
illegal assembly and additional charges.

The main charges are as follows:

The two men were active members of the 'Al-Qaeda' terror organization,
created an 'Al-Qaeda' cell in the Nablus area and had planned to carry out a
large scale terror attack in the 'French Hill' neighborhood in Jerusalem.

In 2005 the two were recruited to 'Al-Qaeda' in Jordan, where they received
instructions from 'Al-Qaeda' members to build up an 'Al-Qaeda'
infrastructure in Judea and Samaria. This with the intent of carrying out
large scale attacks inside Israel. Abu Al'aads and Hafnaui agreed and began
to build up the infrastructure in the area of Nablus, recruiting members and
beginning to plan attacks.

The infrastructure was in close contact via the internet with 'Al-Qaeda'
members in Jordan who issued them orders and also transferred large sums of
money to the Nablus based cell.

Prior to their arrest the cell members had recruited potential suicide
bombers to carry out the terror attack involving a suicide bomber who was to
explode in a pizza parlor in the 'French Hill' neighborhood and a car bomb,
to be detonated near the crowd and rescue teams expected to assemble at the
site of the suicide bombing.

The two men were arrested by security forces on December 10th 2005 at the
'Allenby Bridge' crossing between Jordan and Israel, thwarting the planned
attack.

Hafnaui had been a member of the 'Hamas' terror organization between
2002-2003 and a member of the 'Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigades' terror
organization between 2004-2005. He is also charged with use/possession of
weaponry (explosive belts, pipe bombs, various assault rifles and
ammunition), manufacturing explosives and explosive devices and aiding
wanted terrorists.

Abu Al'aads was recruited to the 'Al-Qaeda' terror organization in May 2005.
He is also charged with possession of weaponry (pipe bombs and an assault
rifle) and participating in paramilitary training.

This is a general translated summary of the indictments, the full legal
documents are available in Hebrew. Press wishing to receive the indictments
are requested to contact the IDF Spokesperson News Desk.