Over the past five years, ISIS has been able to recruit hundreds of fighters from Europe. But even Israel was not unscathed from this recruitment. At least 20 Israelis have become fighters in the ranks of the terrorists and two of them have also converted from Judaism to Islam.
Ever since ISIS was born, the Israeli security forces have kept the focus on those who had joined the fighting in the ranks of Islamic terrorists. Interior Minister Aryeh Deri has proposed an amendment to the Constitution to allow Israelis who endanger national security to be stripped of citizenship.
Now, therefore, the Government of Israel can remove citizenship from any Israeli, even if outside national borders. The amended law went into effect this week and Shin Bet sent the names of the 20 Israelis who recently joined the fighting in Syria to the Interior Minister, two of whom were born in Jerusalem and immigrants from the former Union. Soviet. Both converts to Islam were registered as Muslims in the national registry, before leaving and fighting alongside the ranks of ISIS.
Another person who joined ISIS is an Israeli Arab from Fuerdo who had served as a combat soldier in the Israeli Defense. At some point in his life he decided to join ISIS. The remaining names are all Arab Israelis. It is estimated that over the years some 60 Israelis, mostly Arab Israelis have joined ISIS. Many were killed by death, others returned to Israel and arrested.