Daniel Sharon
Photo: Amikam Horesh
Father of Israeli arrested in Lebanon says his son is no spy
Moshe Sharon whose son Daniel was arrested in Lebanon on Thursday says he is concerned for his son's safety
The father of the Israeli citizen arrested in Lebanon rejected reports on Sunday that his son was a spy and said he was concerned for his safety.
Moshe Sharon's son Daniel was arrested in Beirut on Thursday after Lebanese police found a photocopy of his Israeli passport at the scene of a murder.
Daniel Sharon entered Lebanon 11 times in the course of last year using his German passport, Lebanese newspapers reported Saturday.
"I believe my son encountered a problematic situation because he holds dual citizenship – German and Israeli," Moshe Sharon told Ynet. "I believe it will soon become clear that my son is neither a spy nor a criminal."
Moshe's partner, Orli, told Ynet earlier Sunday that the German Consulate in Beirut and the Israeli Foreign Ministry were working to secure Daniel's release.
Born in Munich, Daniel Sharon moved to Israel with his family at age two and converted to Islam 11 years ago.
"The minute we understood it was our Daniel, we contacted the emergency office at the Foreign Ministry and I called Daniel's mother who lives in Australia. She contacted the German Embassy in Sydney and informed them of what had happened," Sharon said.
Israeli in Beirut
Israeli citizen carrying German passport arrested after his passport photo found at scene of murder; man denied any involvement in intelligence gathering activity
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement: "This is a sensitive situation whereby an Israeli citizen who carries a foreign passport has been arrested in an enemy country."
Daniel Sharon speaks fluent Arabic having learnt the language in Jordan where he lived in 1996.
He was arrested after the main suspect in the murder of a Lebanese man told the police that he was with a German friend when his roommate was murdered.
Police officers arrested Daniel Sharon in his hotel room at the Sheraton Hotel in the Lebanese capital and discovered that the photocopy of the Israeli passport seized at the murder scene was his.
