An Israeli Arab man, a resident of Tirah, is accused of passing information to Hizbullah intended to permit the terrorist organization to assassinate the IDF commander in chief.

A gag order was lifted on Monday permitting the announcement of the case, reporting an indictment has been filed against Rawi Sultani, an Israeli citizen who allegedly passed information to Hizbullah. The multi-count indictment includes counts of passing information to an enemy agent and conspiracy.

The suspect worked out in the same gym as IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gabi Ashkenazi, the Kfar Saba Country Club, using the opportunity to collect information which he passed to his Hizbullah handler. Reports indicate Sultani initially made contact with Hizbullah while attending a summer camp in Morocco sponsored by the Balad Arab Knesset party. It was then that his handler learned he works out in the same Kfar gym as the chief of staff.

In December, Sultani traveled to Poland where he met Sami Harb, reported to be a brother of his handler, accompanied with the explanation that his handler, Salamon Harb, was unable to obtain a visa to make the trip.

The suspect allegedly furnished a wealth of information including the equipment in the gym, its exact location, entrances, security arrangements and other facts that would be necessary to plot an attempt on the commander’s life. He detailed the commander’s schedule, the days and usual times he works out, down to describing what clothing he usually wears when he arrives.

Fuad Sultani, an attorney and the suspect’s father, insists his son is innocent, stating “he was exploited by these agents”.

This case joins a growing list of indictments filed against Israeli Arab citizens charged with espionage and pointing to involvement in terrorism against the state and its residents.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)