Lebanon to Complain to UN over Israeli Spying

The Lebanese government plans to file a complaint with the UN Security Council after it claims to have uncovered an extensive Israeli spy ring. The complaint will focus on an alleged clandestine Israeli involvement in state-owned cellular phone company Alfa.

Two technical employees of the company have been arrested in the last month on suspicion of spying. If convicted, they could face the death penalty. One is accused of having spied for Israel since 2001. It is reported that he would leave Lebanon twice a month, each time returning with large sums of money. If convicted of spying, they could both face the death penalty.

Only yesterday, a former school principal was sentenced to death for spying for Israel in 2008. He was found guilty of providing information to Israel about Hezbollah and its leaders. Last week, another man was sentenced to death after being found guilty of providing information to Israel about military and civilian targets that were bombed during the Second Lebanon War. Since it began its wave of arrests more than a year ago, Lebanon has detained hundreds of suspects including a retired brigadier general from the general security directorate. So far, 20 people have been charged.

Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah has accused the security services of not acting to arrest suspects after being aware of the Alfa spy ring for some time. The security services are now compiling a comprehensive report on spy networks and activities.

I find the fact that a complaint will be filed with UN somewhat ironic. This is because Lebanon continues a significant arms build-up in Southern Lebanon in contradiction of a UN Security Council resolution, and right under the noses of UN peacekeeping troops.