Israel has charged seven people with aiding terrorism, belonging to an illegal group and contacting foreign agents. <br /><br /> The defendants, all Arab citizens, and including a lawyer, have denied the accusations. <br /><br /> Israel claims the accused are part of an ISIL cell operating on its territory. <br /><br /> Prosecutors allege the group was planning attacks in Israel and communicated with rebels in Syria.<br /><br /> Experts say dozens of Israeli Arabs and Palestinians have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join insurgent groups.<br /><br /> The seven Israeli Arabs are from the Galilee region and were arrested in November and December.<br /><br /> Details of the case are only now emerging, with reporting restrictions having just been eased.<br /><br /> One of the defendants reportedly tried to leave Israel in July for Syria but was stopped at the airport in Tel Aviv.
