Jordanâs State Security Court (SSC) yesterday sentenced 12 Islamists to jail terms ranging from 18 months to three years after convicting them of plotting to attack US and Israeli targets, judicial sources said. The tribunal acquitted four suspects for lack of evidence, they added. The 16-strong group was led by Abd Shehadeh Al-Tahawi.After settling down in the northern city of Irbid, Al-Tahawi âcontinued to propagate his views and recruited young followers, including the defendantsâ, the statement said. The defendants, who were arrested earlier this year, had planned to target tourists and archaeologists frequenting hotels in Irbid, as well as personnel of the General Intelligence Department, it added. The SSC is currently trying scores of other suspects, most linked to the Jordanian fugitive Abu Mussab Zarqawi, who is widely believed to be leader of the Iraqi branch of Al-Qaeda.