A 30-year-old American Christian from Texas has been indicted in Israel for plotting to blow up Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem.
Israel’s Ministry of Justice said on Tuesday that a court had indicted Adam Everet Livvix in connection with the plot.
It said that Livix conspired with his roommate, an active soldier in the Israeli military, to obtain 1.4kg (3lb) of explosive material to use to blow up the unidentified Jerusalem holy sites. The ministry said the plot was discovered by a police agent in October.
It said that Livix was indicted on Monday and is currently undergoing psychiatric evaluation.
Livix’s indictment comes at a time of rising tensions in Jerusalem, mostly over a disputed holy site that is sacred both to Muslims and Jews.
The Israeli authorities said the 30-year-old Texan was believed to have arrived in the Palestinian territories in 2013.
At first he lived in Hebron and Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, where he was allegedly asked by a Palestinian if he would be willing to assassinate US President Barack Obama during a visit to the region. Mr Livvix refused the request, according to police.
Mr Livvix moved to Israel a year and a half ago, after which he passed himself off to Israeli acquaintances as a US Navy Seal commando.
He also told them "about his negative opinions towards the Arab population in Israel and his desire to cause harm to Muslim holy sites in Israel", the indictment said, something he subsequently allegedly admitted during questioning by the police and security services.
A court has ordered that Mr Livvix be remanded in custody and be sent for a psychiatric assessment before entering a plea.
Mr Livvix's lawyer, Gal Wolf, complained that he had been denied access to legal counsel for eight days after his arrest on 19 November, and that hearings were held without a lawyer being present.
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