Last update - 00:00 04/12/2007
IDF major indicted for spying for Iran, Hamas seeks plea bargain
By Ofra Eidelman, Haaretz Correspondent
David Shamir, an Israel Defense Forces psychiatric doctor who was indicted over espionage charges for offering information to Iran, Russia and Hamas, announced Tuesday through his attorney that he is seeking a plea bargain with the prosecution.
Shamir's attorney, Amnon Shaltiel, requested from the Tel Aviv District Court not to respond to the indictment until he meets with the prosecution in order to agree on a plea deal.
Shamir was arrested by the Shin Bet security service forces and the police's international crime and investigations unit on November 14, 2007.
The doctor did not succeed in passing any sensitive information onto the sources with whom he had contact. Police said his motivation was "a kind of greed." Classified documents were found at his house, as well as records of his attempts to contact hostile sources, and a small amount of drugs.
According to the indictment, Shamir, 45, was exposed to classified information during his service as an IDF reservist, including the Medical Corps' emergency plans, the manner of IDF medical teams' deployment, the situation of their command centers and programs for evacuating civilians during missile attacks.
Shamir allegedly made contact with the Iranian Foreign Ministry in April 2007, offering his services as an Israeli officer and civilian.
In August 2007, Shamir reportedly sent faxes from his home in Israel to Iranian Consulates in London and Turkey, again offering his assistance to Iran. Shamir received no response and again offered his services in October 2007.
The indictment states that Shamir contacted the Hamas-run Al-Azhar University in Gaza this past November and expressed his desire "to take part in the struggle."
Shamir also allegedly contacted the Russian intelligence service FSB, and inquired about the recruitment process for spies, expressing his desire to serve the organization.
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