PLOT TO MURDER PROMINENT ISRAELI RABBI FOILED

Plot on rabbi foiled: Security authorities detain three Arab-Israelis on suspicion of planning to assassinate Shas spiritual leader Ovadia Yosef. Three men also suspected of planning to carry out attacks in Jerusalem By Efrat Weiss

JERUSALEM - The Shin Bet has detained three Arab-Israeli Jerusalem residents on suspicion of plotting to assassinate Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. The story was cleared for publication Sunday. The three men, who belong to the Popular Front terror group, were arrested and taken in for interrogation. They are also suspected of planning to carry out terror attacks in the capital.

Authorities said the three were detained in April. One of them, Salah Hamuri, 20, is also a French national. The other two were identified as Muatsem Sheikh, 25, and Musa Darwish, 22 .... The suspects were directed and funded by senior Popular Front figures in Jerusalem and also maintained contacts with senior group figures jailed in the West Bank town of Jericho for their role in the assassination of former Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi.