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Shocking: UN protecting an Israeli

UN scandal in Lebanon: UNIFIL defends alleged Israeli spy 

Fury erupts as UN peacekeeping force demands release of man accused of spying for Israel - Lebanese officials say he mapped Hezbollah sites.

UNIFIL soldiers
Photo: Shutterstock

A storm erupted in Lebanon in recent days against the United Nations Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) after it exerted pressure on the country's judicial system and security services to release a man suspected of spying for Israel, claiming that the detainee is an employee of the Jewish Agency and enjoys immunity.

The story began when the Director General of State Security in Bint Jbeil arrested a 30-year-old Lebanese man named Al-Sadr immediately after he returned from a visit to Israel. During his interrogations, Sadr admitted that he had cooperated with Israel since it entered southern Lebanon. According to the report, Sadr carried out several security missions requested by the Israeli Mossad before and during his entry into Lebanon.

Sadr admitted to the interrogators that during his last visit to Israel he met with his employers, and they gave him an electronic device similar to a mobile phone, and asked him to walk around the places they had specified for him, after he had turned on the device.

After being checked by security personnel, it was found that the device automatically scans the area where it is located. The device's scanning includes roads, buildings, and geographic locations, accurately and professionally, which makes it easier for its operators to build maps. Hezbollah is now trying to find out whether the IDF attacked in areas that Sadr has been touring in the past.

In exchange for the services he provided to the enemy army, Sadr received sums of money ranging from US$500 to US$1,000. On his return from a meeting with his employers inside Israel, he was found in possession of $3,000.

After he was interrogated by Hezbollah, the detainee and the seized items were transferred to the military's intelligence directorate for further interrogations.

After the affair became public, UNIFIL began to try to exert pressure on the Lebanese judicial system, judges, and security services to obtain Sadr's release, claiming that Sadr is a UN employee who works for them under contract and enjoys "immunity from international forces."

UNIFIL claims that it is the competent authority to investigate him if he committed a violation and not the state of Lebanon, and has recently called for his immediate extradition without delay. In addition, UNIFIL is threatening to file a complaint against Lebanon if it does not respond to Sadr's extradition requests.

Kikar Hashabbat contributed to this article.

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