Pro-Israel Suspect Arrested Before Activist Attack

Alexander Heifler, a member of a pro-Israel terror cell, has been detained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the New York Police Department (NYPD) for allegedly planning the murder of a prominent pro-Palestinian activist.

Heifler, 26, was accused in federal court on Friday of manufacturing and having Molotov bombs, which authorities claimed he intended to use in the attempted assassination.

Detectives and federal investigators investigated his home in the nearby state of New Jersey and discovered eight Molotov cocktails, leading to his arrest.

Heifler was identified by police as a member of a section of the Jewish Defense League (JDL), a pro-Israel organization that the FBI has classified as a terrorist group.

According to court documents, an undercover investigation showed that he was preparing to kill Nerdeen Kiswani, 31, the co-founder of the pro-Palestinian organization Within Our Lifetime (WOL).

According to investigators, Heifler had been preparing the attack since at least February, when he talked about creating and utilizing Molotov cocktails for “self-defense” during a group video conversation with an undercover officer.

The next day, as well as twice more in the weeks that followed, including on Thursday when they constructed the eight Molotov cocktails together at Heifler’s house, the undercover investigator had a face-to-face encounter with him. The criminal complaint states that he was taken into custody soon after.

Heifler informed the undercover agent throughout the weapons-making process that he intended to toss some of the Molotov cocktails at automobiles and at least one straight into Kiswani’s house.

Until his next court date, Heifler remains detained without bond. He might spend up to 20 years behind bars if found guilty.