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Three Israeli citizens, men from Arab villages in northern Israel, were indicted Aug. 5 in a Nazareth court on charges of spying for Syria.

Fada Sha’ar and his father, Majd Sha’ar of the Druze village Majdal Shams, and Mahmoud Masarwah were arrested last month. A gag order on the case was lifted Aug. 5.

According to the indictment, the three intended to kidnap a man from Israel who they thought was a Syrian pilot who defected to Israel in 1989.

Masarwah is a political activist who works on behalf of political prisoners jailed in Israel. Majdal Shams residents clashed with police searching the Sha’ar home last month. — jta