Israeli-Arab charged as Hezbollah spy
Defendant, 26, allegedly received $500 to collect information about IDF bases and the movements of President Shimon Peres
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An Israeli-Arab man, 26, was charged Thursday with spying for the Lebanon-based terror organization Hezbollah. The defendant was accused of scouting IDF locations and tracking the movements of President Shimon Peres for the Islamic militant group.
According to the indictment, Milad Muhammad Khatib, a truck driver from Majd al-Krum in the western Galilee, first met with a Hezbollah operative in 2007. In subsequent meetings in Denmark and Turkey, Khatib was recruited, with the idea of creating Hezbollah cells among Israel’s Arab citizens. He reportedly received a $500 recruitment fee.
Khatib allegedly collected and passed on information about IDF bases and armaments, about arms caches, and on the facilities of arms manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. He also gathered information about Arab communities in northern Israel and on Arab Knesset members.
The Shin Bet investigation also revealed that, during an August visit to Khatib’s hometown by President Shimon Peres, Khatib collected intelligence on the president’s security arrangements and itinerary.
According to the authorities, Khatib was arrested last month and confessed to his activities. He was charged with espionage, contact with a foreign agent and aiding the enemy in a time of war.
In July, a Majdal Shams resident who studied medicine in Syria was arrested for spying for Syrian intelligence. Liad Joari, 38, admitted to being in contact with Syrian officials but denied passing along sensitive information.
The Times of Israel Community.