Heavy sentence for Hizbullah spies

Court lifts ban on publication: ex-IDF officers, policeman spied for Lebanese terror group in exchange for hashish
By Sharon Rofeh-Ophir

NAZARETH – Three Beduin residents from Beit Zarzhir have been sentenced by the Nazareth District Court to heavy sentences for spying for Hizbullah.

 

The court lifted a ban on publication Thursday in the case of Lieutenant Colonel Omer el-Haib, police officer Jamaal Rahaal, and several other members of an espionage cell that sold maps, electronic equipment and secret information to Hizbullah in exchange for tens of kilograms of hashish.

 

Both men served as trackers in the IDF and established ties with Lebanese drug dealers, including one known as "Abu Said". After smuggling a "shipment" of hashish, Hizbullah demanded information about the army, classified maps and mobile telephones.

 

The court said despite the fact the suspects were motivated by criminal, rather than nationalist, motives, they were deserving of severe punishment.