While government officials deny any connection between Sunday’s release of terrorist Nasim Nasr and ongoing efforts to reach a deal with Hizbullah, the former Israeli citizen turned terrorist was set free and sent back to Lebanon, to a waiting hero’s welcome.

Nasr, born to a Jewish mother, converted to Islam and moved to Israel. In 2002 he was sentenced to prison on espionage charges. Nasr completed his six-year prison term and was being held in administrative detention.

He was taken from Nitzan Prison and released to Lebanon on Sunday morning, crossing near Rosh HaNikra into Lebanon under the supervision of the International Red Cross.

His attorney, Smadar Ben-Natan explained he completed his sentence and should have been released from prison a number of weeks ago, adding authorities delayed his release to ensure the timing appeared to be a gesture towards Hizbullah as the prime minister seeks to bring home captive IDF soldiers.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

(Photo: Ynet News)