Israeli policemen. Photo: wiki commons.

The Israel Security Agency, in cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces, uncovered infrastructure of the Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist organization in the Ramallah area, Israel Hayom reported. The cell allegedly planned on abducting Israelis, according to documents recently released for publication.

Detained members from the uncovered cell admitted to planning an abduction of an Israeli to use as a bargaining chip for freeing PFLP leader Ahmed Sadaat, who has been in an Israeli prison since 2006 for planning and executing the assassination of then-Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze’evi in 2001.

The two main PFLP members arrested were the cell’s founder, Mahmoud Abu Ahram, 26, and Mehmed Anwar Mehmed Zaytoun, 26, recruited by Ahram. Both men are from Ramallah.

During their questioning, the two admitted to planning an abduction to get their group’s leader back. Ahram had contacted an arms dealer and attempted to procure two pistols and an automatic rifle. Ahram and Zaytoun had planned two possible abduction scenarios: One would be to fire on IDF troops at one point as a diversionary tactic and then attempt to abduct a soldier at a different location during the chaos; the other would be to abduct an Israeli civilian waiting to catch a ride at a bus stop.

Ahram and Zaytoun planned to take their abducted hostage to a safe house in the village Aqab, on the outskirts of Ramallah. They were indicted in the Judea and Samaria military court for conspiring to abduct a soldier and serving an illegal organization, and will be detained until the end of the legal proceedings against them.