Terrorists recruit Israelis on Facebook

Shin Bet warns terrorists seeking to recruit and entrap Israelis via social networking Web sites.

By YAAKOV KATZ
Hamas heads 224.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
Hamas heads 224.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
Terror groups are seeking to recruit Israelis as spies via internet-based social groups like Facebook, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) warned on Monday. The warning came after a number of Israelis were approached by terror elements and asked to provide classified information. In one case, an Israeli was contacted via Facebook by a man who identified himself as a Lebanese merchant and offered money in exchange for classified information regarding Israeli security facilities. The Shin Bet noted that terror groups traditionally gathered intelligence on-line and that the use of social groups like Facebook was a new tactic aimed at obtaining classified information. Information posted on the sites, such as addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses - are also used by the groups to locate Israelis. The Shin Bet warned of a danger that Israelis would be lured to meetings abroad where they would be kidnapped by terror groups like Hizbullah. In 2001, 16-year-old Ofir Rahum was lured to Ramallah by a Palestinian woman posing as a tourist in internet chat rooms and was killed by Fatah terrorists. The Shin Bet added that terrorists were also tracking Web sites and forums visited by IDF soldiers and reservists from elite units, to gather information on security apparatuses and IDF bases.