Swede indicted in Israel on Hezbollah spying charges

A Swedish national recruited by Hezbollah was arrested in Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport in July and indicted for spying for the Lebanese terror group, the Shin Bet security agency announced Sunday.

Lebanon-born Hassan Khalil Hizran, 55, was recruited by the terror group in 2009 while on a trip to Lebanon with his family. He returned to Lebanon in 2011 and 2013 for meetings with Hezbollah leaders.

Hizran was tasked with recruiting Israelis to the terror group, “with an emphasis on those with ties to Jews, or access to army personnel, the defense establishment, or government officials,” the Shin Bet said in a statement. He was also ordered to gather information about army bases and IDF targets. Hizran also conveyed information to Hezbollah about Ben Gurion Airport security.

Hizran was paid $2,300 in 2009 and $800 in 2011 for his services to Hezbollah.

Following his July 21 arrest, Hizran was indicted for handing over information to the terror group, having contact with a foreign agent, and accepting funds from Hezbollah.

Hizran’s mission proves Hezbollah is seeking to recruit Israeli agents and foreign nationals with access to both Lebanon and Israel, the Shin Bet statement said.

“Hezbollah’s interest in the entry process and inspections in Ben Gurion Airport indicates Hezbollah’s desire to identify the loopholes in the process, which will allow it to get its people into Israel undisturbed and without falling under suspicion,” it said. “Hezbollah’s interest in army bases and IDF targets proves once again that Hezbollah is gearing up for the next campaign with Israel, and is marking these targets in its ‘bank of targets.'”

The Swedish authorities have been updated about Hizran’s arrest, the Shin Bet said.

According to Swedish media, Hizran was with his family at the time of his arrest, but was the only one detained. His family said he was denied access to a lawyer for 10 days, and maintained they have not been permitted to visit him. His son, who is now in Sweden, said his father had traveled to Israel several times before. Upon entering Israel during his earlier trips, Hizran was questioned at the airport but not detained, his relatives said.

Representatives of the Swedish Foreign Ministry said they were in contact with the Israeli authorities, according to Swedish media reports, but said they would not intervene in Israel’s judicial process.

In June, Cyprus sentenced a Lebanese-Canadian man to six years in jail on terror charges. Judicial authorities said that Hussein Bassam Abdallah was a Hezbollah member.

Josefin Dolsten contributed to this report.