2 Israeli citizens recruited by Hezbollah arrested in joint operation

Two Israeli citizens from the Galilee were arrested last month for their alleged involvement with Lebanon's terrorist group Hezbollah, the Shin Bet security agency said on Sunday following a joint operation with the Israel Police and IDF.

The Shin Bet's investigation revealed that the Iran-backed Hezbollah had recruited the Israelis for drug and arms smuggling purposes.

The detainees were identified as Sultan Atallah, a 55-year-old Druze from the village of Yarka in northern Israel, and Rami Shami, a 33-year-old Arab Israeli from the village of Jadida.

Shami had previously been convicted of drug smuggling.

According to the report, the two met with smugglers Hussein and Akram Sheet in Turkey in late November 2021, where Hussein asked Atallah and Shami to smuggle arms into Israel and hide them for other Hezbollah recruits.

The two were also allegedly recruited to carry out "terrorist attacks" inside the Jewish state.

"This affair illustrates the efforts of Iranian and other terrorist elements to exploit the Arab and Druze citizens of Israel," said a senior Shin Bet official.

A Shin Bet spokesperson said Sheet told the Israeli citizens that Iran wants to regain control of the region and transfer weapons to Hezbollah's "dormant cells" in Israel.

The two were allegedly further asked to carry out kidnappings in Israel and provide information on sensitive places to attack in return for a large sum of money.

An indictment was filed on Sunday by Israel's Northern District Attorney's Office against Atallah and Shami alleging serious offenses.