Lebanese ex-general a spy for Israel?
A retired Lebanese general was arrested on suspicion of spying for Israel, a senior Lebanese security official said April 14 in Beirut. Israeli government officials would not comment on the allegations, and the man’s identity was not immediately clear.
The ex-general from the General Security Department of the Interior Ministry’s detention is among several arrests in recent months that appear to be part of a stepped-up campaign in Lebanon against those suspected of gathering information on Hezbollah for Israel.
The security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the retired general told interrogators he had worked for Israel for more than 10 years and regularly met with his Israeli contacts at European destinations. He also allegedly used the business he owned, which managed foreign domestic workers, as a cover for intelligence work, the official said.
The Lebanese security official said the ex-general had been under surveillance for three months before his April 11 arrest. His wife also was questioned, the official said. No other details were provided. — ap
Rabbi puts clamp on troops’ beards
An Israeli army rabbi with the Nahal infantry brigade has forbidden the troops belonging to the Conservative, or Masorti, movement from growing beards for religious reasons, Ha’aretz reported, citing Army Radio.
As of this month, a new order permits soldiers to grow beards only for religious or medical reasons.
The Conservative soldiers were told they were not given the permit for religious reasons because the rabbi did not recognize their stream of Judaism, Ha’aretz quoted Army Radio as reporting. — jta
Cast Lead papers found in garbage
Sensitive documents detailing the activities of the Israeli air force, particularly during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, were discovered by a civilian last weekend in a garbage heap near an IAF base in central Israel.
The documents listed the names of pilots who carried out strikes in Gaza as well as launch times, call signs and other details. One document marked “classified” detailed every operation carried out by an IAF squadron during the offensive; it was drafted just days after the offensive ended.
The civilian collected some of the papers and was told by military personnel at the base that the rest would be cleared immediately. The man returned to the site April 13 only to discover that the documents were still there.
An IDF spokesperson said that “the matter is being checked by the air force; it must be stressed that this was an isolated incident.” — ynetnews.com
Ehud Olmert gets hearing postponed
Israel’s Supreme Court has granted Ehud Olmert’s request to postpone a hearing in one of the cases against him in order to seek cancer treatment abroad. Justice Miriam Naor ruled April 10 that the hearing cannot be held before May 10.
Olmert’s attorneys petitioned the court for a postponement, saying Olmert’s prostate cancer required immediate treatment, the Jerusalem Post reported. He was scheduled to fly to the United States this week for treatment.
Olmert had been scheduled to appear before Attorney General Menachem Mazuz on Sunday, April 19. Mazuz has warned the former prime minister’s attorneys that he plans to indict Olmert in the case. — jta