Nonstop attempts to recruit members of Israeli Arab community. Hizbullah rally in Lebanon
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Nazareth man: I contacted Hizbullah
According to indictment 38-year-old Israeli-Arab accused of contacting Hizbullah agent who suggested he open USD 1 million restaurant, collect intelligence on army bases, officials in exchange for large sums of money; investigators say man was tempted by warm treatment he received from terror group
In yet another sign of Hizbullah’s nonstop attempts to recruit members of the Israeli-Arab community to spy on the Jewish State, the state prosecution on Thursday filed an indictment against a Nazareth resident who admitted to having contacted a Hizbullah agent.
According to the indictment filed at the Nazareth Magistrates Court, the 38-year-old man is accused of contacting a Hizbullah agent who suggested he open a USD 1 million restaurant and use it to collect intelligence on army officials who frequent the restaurant, as well as information on army bases, in exchange for large sums of money.
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In the indictment the man is accused of assisting the enemy at times of war and contacting a foreign agent. He pleaded guilty to all charges and his remand has been extended till the end of the legal procedures.
Investigators wrote that the man was not tempted by the huge sums of money offered to him but rather by the warm approach and treatment he received from Hizbullah.
The man was apparently recruited by his brother-in-law who lives in South Africa, where his wife’s relatives hosted him in July. His brother-in-law suggested he accompany him to Uganda to meet a Hizbullah agent.
In August both men traveled to Uganda where they met Hassan, nicknamed Abu Mahmoud, who suggested he assist in an operation aimed at collecting information about military and security bases, as well as weapon factories.
'It's cheaper in Haifa'
The man accepted the proposal and told Hassan that he has many Jewish friends, to which Hassan replied that he should befriend members of the Shin Bet; the man was promised large sums in accordance with his successes.
A month following the adventure in Africa, the man met Hassan in Bulgaria where he was given a special telephone to use for passing on information to Hizbullah in Lebanon.
Hassan proposed that the accused find a Jewish partner for a restaurant or a nightclub, preferably a member of the security forces, and kept the promise of financial assistance with the business adventure to the tune of USD 1 million.
The accused apparently replied that there are much cheaper premises in Haifa that can serve the same purpose.
Hassan was given the names of two senior intelligence officers, whom the accused said he knew well from their service at the Nazareth police station.
Three weeks ago he was arrested, and to the surprise of the security services, they found out he belonged to a wealthy family who had relations with police officials and owned a business employing Jews as well as Arabs.
