American Arrested And Indicted In Israel For Plotting To Attack Muslim Holy Sites

An American citizen, wanted in the U.S. on drug-related charges, was arrested in Israel for allegedly acquiring explosives stolen from the Israeli military and plotting attacks on Muslim holy sites in the country, Israeli authorities said on Tuesday. Adam Everett Livvix, a 30-year-old from Texas, had reportedly arrived in Israel in 2013, and had initially lived in the West Bank cities of Hebron and Bethlehem.

“Various types of ammunition and explosives stolen from the IDF (Israel Defense Forces),” were found in his possession, Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency said, according to media reports.

Livvix was indicted by an Israeli court on Monday and ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation at the request of his lawyers, who claimed that authorities were exaggerating the security implications of the case, according to a report by Haaretz.

Livvix had stayed back in the country illegally since his permit expired in September 2013. During this period, he also falsely presented himself as a U.S. Navy SEAL, and “dealt with various criminal activities and came up with ideas for a variety of terrorist attacks,” Shin Bet officials said, according to media reports. He was reportedly arrested in November and had subsequently confessed to having plotted to attack sites venerated by Muslims.

He also “expressed ... his negative opinion of the Arab population of Israel,” Israel’s justice ministry reportedly said.

“This case has been presented by the security services as one of the most severe security cases Israel has ever dealt with. Based on this information, the accused has been denied his right to meet with a lawyer for eight days,” Gal Wolf, Livvix’s lawyer, reportedly said. “For eight days he was arrested, and was not allowed to even know who his defense lawyer was, and hearings were held with his defense lawyer while he was not present.”

The FBI and the U.S. state department have been notified of the investigation by Israeli authorities, according to media reports.