September 11, 2001 — New Jersey
On September 11, 2001, five Israeli nationals were arrested in New Jersey after witnesses reported seeing them celebrating and filming the World Trade Center attacks. They were held for 71 days before being quietly deported to Israel. This site documents the declassified FBI investigation into the incident.
Maria grabbed the binoculars.
ABC News - June 21, 2002
With cameos from:
Were stopped and the occupants arrested by local police from the East Rutherford Police Department in New Jersey then handed off to the FBI.
The "Israeli Art Students" were a group of around 140 Israelis detained and deported in 2001 for immigration violations while posing as door-to-door art sellers. Many targeted U.S. government sites, including DEA offices, raising suspicions of intelligence gathering.
21 with military/intel background|73 individuals documented
Name | Location | Date | Military/Intel | Activities | Outcome |
|---|
| Aharon, Ohad | Spotsylvania County, VA | March 18, 2001 | — | Sold artwork at agent's home; described as White male. | Identified in photo lineup; no arrest. |
| Alroei, Or | St. Louis, MO | April 4, 2001 | — | Entered DEA lobby with paintings; conflicting statements. | Arrested by INS for peddling; phone linked to others. |
| Artzi, Eyal | Richardson, TX | March 15, 2001 | — | Associate in art sales group. | Present at arrest; TX DL. |
| Ashkenazi, Shay | Seattle/TX/NY/Atlanta | Dec 12, 2000 | Former Israeli intelligence officer | Reported fraud scheme involving art sales. | Admitted to U.S.; secondary inspection. |
| Balhams, Meirav | Fredericksburg, VA | April 11, 2001 | — | Sold artwork in shops; leader of pair. | Interviewed; NY ID; picked up in van. |
| Baram, Lior | Plantation, FL/Houston, TX | Jan 22, 2001 | 3 years military, 2 in intelligence | Attempted art sales at DEA. | Instructed to leave; FL DL; multiple entries. |
| Ben Dor, Tomer | Irving/Dallas, TX | May 9, 2001 | Patriot missile defense unit | Software engineer; art-related. | Interviewed; cash ($1500); file with 'DEA Groups'. |
| Bendalak, Orit | Tampa, FL (Davis Islands) | Feb 27, 2001 | Bomb technician training | Art seller. | Fingerprinted; passport with international travel. |
| Biton, Morin Miryam | Euless, TX | Jan 2, 2001 | — | Art seller. | Warned for no permit. |
| Borenstein, Dilka | Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX | March 27, 2001 | Recently discharged military intelligence | Toured areas; art-related. | Admitted; surveilled. |
| Bouzaglo, Kobi | Richmond, VA | March 12, 2001 | — | Boss of art sales group. | Cellular phone; group cited. |
| Cohen, Eli | Hollywood/Tampa, FL | March 1, 2001 | — | Art seller. | Released; FL DL. |
| Cohen, Hammutal | Various (indexed) | Feb 12, 2001 | — | Art student. | Departed U.S.; Israeli passport. |
| Cohen, Zeev | Tinker AFB, OK | May 17, 2001 | — | Attempted art sales; visa violation. | Detained by INS; voluntary departure. |
| Dagai, Yotam | Dallas/St. Louis, MO | March 28-April 4, 2001 | — | Art seller in group. | Arrested by INS for peddling. |
| Dardic, Vanina Erika | Montgomery, AL | March 27, 2001 | Served in Israeli Army | Art student promoting work; dual citizenship. | Interviewed; Argentine ID; van. |
| Dror, David | New Orleans, LA | Feb 13, 2001 | — | Showed artwork in federal building. | Detained by Marshals; nervous. |
| Drore, Rani | Miami, FL | Jan 21, 2001 | — | Associated with art sales. | None specified. |
| Eldad, Dahan | Irving, TX | March 26, 2001 | — | Art-related; marijuana possession. | Arrested by INS; bong, checks. |
| Engel, Yoni | Dallas/St. Louis, MO | March 28-April 4, 2001 | Former company commander | Art seller. | Arrested by INS. |
| Gal, Michal | Irving, TX | March 27, 2001 | — | Attempted art sales at DEA. | Arrested; bond posted. |
| Gavish, Yael | Fredericksburg, VA | April 11, 2001 | — | Sold artwork; spoke little English. | Interviewed; Israeli passport with stamps. |
| Gavriel, Noam | Irving, TX | March 27, 2001 | — | Present in apartment. | Not arrested. |
| Gilor, Yaniv Zacoravich | San Diego, CA | Various | — | Leader; rented rooms; van owner. | INS hits; visa entry. |
| Glikman, Marina | Dallas/Irving, TX | May 9, 2001 | Prior intelligence officer | Computer programmer; art-related. | Interviewed; cash ($1500). |
| Gross, Hagit | San Francisco, CA | ~Jan 2000 | — | Sold painting. | Israeli passport. |
| Harari, Ilana | Tampa, FL (Davis Islands) | Feb 27, 2001 | — | Art seller. | Fingerprinted; passport. |
| Kedem, Bran | Richmond, VA | March 12, 2001 | — | Tried to enter DEA; selling paintings. | Cited for solicitation; fingerprints. |
| Kedem, Guy | Denver, CO | Various | — | Left business card for art sales. | Check for painting. |
| Kendel, Rachel | Tampa, FL | March 1, 2001 | — | Art seller. | Released. |
| Keren, Inbal | Fort Myers, FL | March 15, 2001 | — | Art seller. | Interviewed; passport. |
| Kochavi, Inbar | Miami, FL | Jan 21/Feb 2-3, 2001 | Served as secretary in military | Solicited at lab; promoting art. | Escorted out; passport; blue van. |
| Kuznitz, Keren | Tampa, FL | March 1, 2001 | — | Art seller. | Released; FL ID. |
| Lifshitz, Gilad | Euless, TX | Jan 2, 2001 | — | Driver for art sellers. | Warned; FL DL. |
| Livni, Eran | Irving, TX | March 27, 2001 | — | Attempted art sales at DEA. | Arrested; deported. |
| Machbubi, Hilda | Fort Myers, FL | March 15, 2001 | — | Art seller at CFC. | Interviewed; passport, FL ID. |
| Maimon, Maya | Richardson, TX | March 15, 2001 | — | Art seller. | Arrested for soliciting; passport. |
| Marziano, Assaf | Tampa, FL (Davis Islands) | Feb 27, 2001 | Former Israeli Army police officer | Art seller. | Fingerprinted; passport. |
| Matatia, Keren | Tampa, FL | March 1, 2001 | — | Art seller. | Released. |
| Meytal, Cohen | Dallas, TX | Dec 2000 | — | Sold artwork to DEA employees. | Checks c/o Calmanovic. |
| Miller, Zeev | Dallas, TX | May 9, 2001 | Explosive ordnance/combat engineer | Software student; art-related. | Interviewed; cash ($1200). |
| Moshe, Eran | Irving, TX | March 27, 2001 | Former special operations | Art-related. | Arrested. |
| Navon, Ofir | Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX | March 27, 2001 | Former explosive ordnance disposal | Art-related; toured areas. | Admitted; surveilled. |
| Ofek, Aran | Irving, TX | March 27, 2001 | Father: retired two-star general | Attempted art sales at DEA. | Arrested; deported. |
| Ohana, Yaron | Tinker AFB, OK | May 17, 2001 | — | Attempted art sales; visa violation. | Detained by INS; voluntary departure. |
| Oshra, Sussie | Tampa, FL | March 1, 2001 | — | Art seller. | Released. |
| Perlas, Limor | Richmond, VA | March 12, 2001 | — | Part of soliciting group. | None specified. |
| Pollcson, Bella | Tampa, FL | March 1, 2001 | — | Art seller at DEA; lied about name. | Escorted away; portfolio, IDs. |
| Regev, Gadi | Richardson, TX | March 15, 2001 | — | Associate of sellers. | Present at arrest; passport. |
| Rotem, Sharon | Euless, TX | March 16, 2001 | Out of Israeli military | Art seller; 'Good Deed' work. | Warned; passport, tickets. |
| Sadan, Ben | San Antonio/St. Louis, MO | April 4, 2001 | — | Driver for art sellers. | Cellular phone. |
| Sages, Ester | Montgomery, AL | March 27, 2001 | Served 2 years in Israeli Army | Art student; girlfriend of Valansi. | Interviewed; passport. |
| Sagiv, Akyuz Shmuel | Orlando, FL | May 3, 2001 | Bodyguard to high-ranking general; demolition | Art seller associate. | Interviewed; passport, phone. |
| Sasson, Daria | Euless, TX | Jan 2, 2001 | — | Art seller. | Warned. |
| Segal, Yafit | Miami, FL | Feb 9, 2001 | — | Art seller; admitted not student. | Ticketed; counterfeit SS cards, FL DL. |
| Segalovitz, Peer | Orlando, FL | May 3, 2001 | Lieutenant; special forces (605 battalion); demolition expert | Art seller; admitted illegitimate purpose. | Arrested; military ID, deposits, paintings. |
| Sella, Livnat | Tampa, FL | March 1, 2001 | — | Art seller. | Released. |
| Serfaty, Hanan | Tampa, FL | March 1, 2001 | Served 18-21 in military | Team leader; buys/sells art. | Released; bank slips ($93k), suspended DL. |
| Shlomo, Rony | Albuquerque, NM | Feb 1, 2001 | — | Sold artwork. | Check for $125. |
| Simkin, Nimrod | Fort Myers, FL | March 15, 2001 | — | Driver for art sellers. | Interviewed; FL DL, recorder, equipment. |
| Simon, Itay | Irving, TX | April 4, 2001 | Former military | Associate of Calmanovic. | Arrested by INS; $50k bond. |
| Simon, Michael | Tampa, FL (Davis Islands) | Feb 27, 2001 | — | Art seller. | Fingerprinted; passport. |
| Susi, David | Flower Mound, TX | March 25, 2001 | — | Art seller at residence. | Not detained. |
| Topaz, Naor | Tinker AFB, OK | May 17, 2001 | — | Attempted art sales; visa violation. | Detained; uncashed checks. |
| Touyz, Keren | Euless, TX | Jan 2, 2001 | — | Art seller. | Warned. |
| Unikovsky, Idan | Little Rock, AR | March 20, 2001 | — | Part of group of 8; team leader Ratzady. | Identified at home; passport. |
| Vainshtein, Julia | Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX | March 27, 2001 | — | Art-related; toured areas. | Admitted; surveilled. |
| Valansi, Marcelo | Montgomery, AL/Gainesville, FL | March 27, 2001 | — | Art student (unverified); dual citizenship. | Interviewed; Argentine ID; van owner. |
| Watermann, Tsvi (Zvi) | Volk Field ANG Base, WI | May 19, 2001 | Recently discharged military | Requested museum visit; took runway photos. | Charged trespass; $210 fine; passport, cameras. |
| Yanay, Betzalel | Euless, TX | Jan 2, 2001 | — | Art seller. | Warned. |
| Yochai, Legum | Miami, FL | Jan 21, 2001 | — | Owner of van used in sales. | Address linked; no direct outcome. |
| Zaguri, Oshirt | Tampa, FL | March 1, 2001 | — | Art seller. | Released. |
| Zwaig, Meirav | Fort Myers, FL | March 15, 2001 | — | Art seller at CFC. | Interviewed; passport. |
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