Israeli Arab recruited by Hezbollah nabbed

An Israeli Arab, recruited by Hezbollah to spy on Israel was indicted in a Jerusalem court Sunday. Bus driver Atsam Hashem Ali Masharah, 37, a resident of Jabel Mukaber in southern Jerusalem, was charged Sunday on counts of contacts with a foreign agent, supplying information to the enemy, and traveling to an enemy country without a permit, Israel's Security Agency said. Mashahrah was arrested by the Shin Bet and Israel Police on Oct. 24, the Israeli agency said. Not all details concerning his arrest were released for publication. Mashahrah allegedly admitted to being recruited by Hezbollah and revealed some information he passed on to the group, including locations of Israeli government buildings such as the Knesset as well as locations of public institutions including the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Hadassah Hospital. After meeting with Hezbollah operatives abroad he was advised to maintain contact with the group via Internet on his return to Israel, the Shin Bet said. Mashahrah is not the first Israeli to be recruited by Hezbollah to spy on Israel, the Shin Bet said, adding the Shiite group invests great efforts to recruit Israeli Arabs for espionage purposes. Israeli Arabs are holders of Israeli identity cards, and therefore face no restrictions in their movements, not only in Israel but also in Palestinian controlled areas in the West Bank, the Shin Bet said.