The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) announced on Thursday that it had arrested
alleged Hezbollah spy, Milad Hatib, and the state filed an indictment against
him in Haifa District Court for various espionage offenses.
Hatib, a
26-year-old resident of Majd el-Kurum, was captured in early
September.
Since late 2009 or early 2010, he had collected information
for Hezbollah regarding the location and security details of army bases, places
where weapons were kept, weapons manufacturing areas and other strategic
information, the indictment said.
Hatib was about to provide information
about President Shimon Peres’s security detail, vehicle and other security
information based on observing a visit from Peres to Hatib’s village in August,
according to the indictment, but he was caught before he could hand over the
information.
His next meeting with his Hezbollah handler was set for May
2013.
Hatib was “activated” by a Lebanese Hezbollah agent who has been
living in Denmark for years named Burhan Hatib, 47, the indictment
stated.
The indictment alleged that Milad Hatib started visiting Burhan
in Denmark, other European states and Turkey between 2007 and
2009.
During this period, Burhan questioned Milad about his views on the
Israel-Palestinian conflict, said the indictment, eventually moving on to asking
him about where Hezbollah missiles hit in northern Israel during the 2006 Second
Lebanon War and how Israel’s home front reacted to the missile
attacks.
Burhan also asked Milad about Israeli Arabs involved in Zionist
political parties, the indictment said.
The indictment said that
throughout his meetings with Burhan, Milad always traveled with Amar Ja’aleeya
of Sakhnin.
Each time Milad traveled abroad to meet with Burhan, Burhan
covered the costs of his travel and lodging, the indictment alleged.
When
Milad eventually agreed to work for Burhan in late 2009 or early 2010, the
indictment alleged that Burhan paid Milad $500 for agreeing to join Hezbollah’s
spying operations in Israel.
The indictment said that Burhan told Milad
that his reconnaissance activities were the beginning of establishing a full
terrorist cell in Israel to aid Hezbollah in operations against
Israel.
All of the information that Milad gathered for Burhan was
provided during the various in-person visits to avoid leaving a trail, according
to the indictment.
Although Milad and Burhan spoke by telephone to
coordinate visits and other issues, they had no electronic communications and
left no electronic record, the indictment said.
According to the
indictment, among information that Milad revealed to Burhan in a Turkey visit in
July was information relating to weapons-maker Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
and MK Ahmed Dabah (Kadima).
Burhan also told Milad code words by which
he could recognize and make contact with a replacement for Burhan, should Burhan
die or be killed, said the indictment.
In its entirety, the indictment
included charges for contacts with a foreign spy, conspiracy to aid the enemy
during war, aiding an enemy during war, spying and working for an illegal
terrorist organization.
According to a press release by the Shin Bet,
Milad had admitted to most of the details in the indictment during
questioning.
The Shin Bet release also noted successfully busting a
Hezbollah affiliated drug-dealing cell in July that had also acquired C4
explosive material.