Three Indicted with Spying for Israel, Including Lebanese UNIFIL Employee

Hani Matar, a Lebanese employee of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), was indicted on Tuesday on charges of collaborating with Israel, reported al-Jadeed television, citing Military Court documents.

It said that Military Examining Magistrate Judge Riyad Abou Ghida indicted him and two other people with working with Israel.

The indictment identifies the two others as Syrian national Ramez al-Sayyed and his Lebanese wife Salam Ibrahim Shukur.

The three indictees were arrested by the General Security in November.

The indictment describes al-Sayyed as an opponent of Damascus who "extremely hates the Syrian regime, Hizbullah and their allies."

"Aided by his wife Salam Shukur, they commnuicated via Facebook with Israeli spy Tannous al-Jallad, who lives in occupied Palestine and recruits agents for the Israeli army," the indictment adds.

"Through this communication, Ramez al-Sayyed volunteered to work for Israel, telling Tannous al-Jallad that he was willing to carry out any mission requested by the Mossad in the Sidon region since he has a cafe there frequented by a large number of civilians and soldiers," it says.

The General Security said at the time that the detainees had confessed to gathering information on various security and military figures for the purpose of assassinations.

They photographed roads and other “sensitive” areas in the South, said the General Security in a statement.

UNIFIL had said in November that it “will continue to provide the assistance required to facilitate the Government's investigations into the allegations.”

“UNIFIL considers it of the utmost importance that the investigative and judicial process is conducted in accordance with the international standards of justice, fairness and due process of law and fully supports the Lebanese authorities in the effort,” it added.

Lebanon and Israel remain technically in a state of war, with occasional skirmishes on the ceasefire line.

UNIFIL monitors the line and has a force of some 10,000 international peacekeepers.

It also employs numerous local staff members serving in non-peacekeeping roles.

Between April 2009 and 2014, Lebanese authorities detained more than 100 people accused of spying for Israel, most of them army members or telecommunications employees.

But such arrests have since been rare.

M.T./Y.R.