Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — Israel has arrested a businessman accused by the United States of selling military equipment to Iran.

Officials said Eli Cohen was arrested at Ben-Gurion International Airport as he was about to board a flight to London.

The officials said Cohen was taken into custody on May 11 at the request of the United States on charges of conducting military deals with Teheran.

“He was convicted in the United States of offenses relating to the export of military equipment without proper licenses, which indicates the danger he poses and that he cannot be trusted,” the Israeli Justice Ministry said. “His past convictions and current allegations indicate that his criminal behavior is ongoing.”

Officials said Cohen was also accused by Washington of money-laundering. They said Cohen would be held until Israel received a request for his extradition to the United States.

In February 2014, a Greek newspaper said two Israelis were accused by
Washington of trying to sell spare parts of the U.S.-origin F-4 fighter-jet
to Iran. A U.S. federal indictment charged that Cohen tried to export the
parts from 2000 to 2004.

An Israeli judge ordered Cohen held for two days. At a hearing on May
12, prosecutors said U.S. authorities would soon file an extradition
request.

“We are certain that when the issues are examined in detail by the
courts, it will be decided that there was no impediment in the actions of
Mr. Eli Cohen and that there is no basis for his detention or his
extradition,” Cohen’s attorneys said in a statement.

  Eli Cohen, Israel arrests businessman charged with selling jet fighter parts to Iran, Israeli Justice Ministry