Israeli Arabs charged with spying for Hizbullah

Seven Israeli Arabs have been charged with spying for the Iranian-backed Hizbullah in Lebanon.

The seven defendants from the village of Abu Snan in the Galilee were arraigned in the Haifa District Court on Wednesday on charges of maintaining contacts with Hizbullah guerrillas while recently visiting family in Lebanon. They have also been charged with conspiring to kidnap Israeli soldiers or civilians and deliver them into the hands of Hizbullah and of conspiring to kill Israeli Arabs suspected of collaboration with Israeli authorities as well as plant explosives at roadside army pick-up points.

Police said the defendants admitted the charges but their attorney said the seven have not harmed state security. They didn't submit pleas on Wednesday.

This is the first time Israeli Arabs have been charged with spying for Hizbullah. The charges said the defendants held contacts with Hizbullah guerrillas after the May 24 withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon when family reunion meetings took place in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. During the visit the seven received Lebanese cellular phones.

Two months ago an Israeli reserve officer on business in Europe was abducted into Lebanon. Hizbullah claimed responsibility for his abduction. Earlier, three Israeli soldiers were kidnapped by Hizbullah along the Israeli-Lebanese border at the disputed Shebaa Farms.

The seven Israeli Arabs have not been implicated in the abductions but Galilee district police chief Lt. Col. Yehuda Salomon said that the defendants had plotted to kidnap an Israeli soldier. The plan was nipped in the bud, Salomon said.

''This was a very dangerous cell and if it had not been uncovered the consequences would have been very grave,'' Salomon said. "They have been holding contacts with hostile organizations, Hizbullah included. They are charged with passing information harmful to the State and of planning to kidnap a soldier."

Four other residents of Abu-Snan are still under investigation.

In Beirut, Hizbullah denied any involvement. ''This accusation is completely devoid of any truth,'' a Hizbullah statement said.