Israel detains leading nuclear scientist

TEL AVIV — Israel has detained a leading nuclear scientist on charges of trying to relay defense secrets of the Jewish state.

Brig. Gen. Yitzhak Yaakov has been in Israeli detention since March 28 in a case that some government sources term as the most serious since the 1986 capture of nuclear spy Mordechai Vanunu. The sources said Yaakov, 75, was ready to relay Israeli defense and nuclear scientists to foreign elements.

Yaakov is a former chief of research and development in Israel. An Israeli with U.S. citizenship, Yaakov was honored a month ago by Israeli defense leaders for his contribution's to national security.

On Sunday, a Tel Aviv court lifted a gag order on the case. The order was lifted after the London-based Sunday Times published the case.

Israeli sources said Yaakov was warned several times to be more careful in discussing defense secrets with foreigners or ordinary Israelis. The sources said Yaakov dismissed the warnings and became involved with a Russian woman.