Last update - 00:00 18/02/2008
Prisons Service refuses early release of man charged with giving Hezbollah information
By Yoav Stern and Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondents
Israel Prisons Service on Monday rejected an appeal to shorten the sentence of Nissim Nasser, an Israeli accused of giving Hezbollah information damaging to Israel's security.
Nasser, who immigrated to Israel from Lebanon, was sentenced to six years imprisonment after he was accused of having contact with an enemy agent and of transferring information with a view to undermining national security.
The IPS rejected the petition to shorten Nasser's sentence on advice from the Shin Bet security service, who charged that Nasser still has contact with Hezbollah.
Nasser told Haaretz via his lawyer that he did not expect the petition to be rejected. "I've been in prison for six years and will be out in two months," he said. "I am not a danger to the public, but they (the Shin Bet) think I am in contact with Hezbollah. That's nonsense," he added.
Nasser is in custody as a criminal inmate, and as such is able to make external phone calls.
Lawyer Shadi Yhounis told Haaretz after representing Nasser at Monday's hearing that he is an ordinary prisoner who maintains good relations with wardens and other inmates. "I don't understand why unfounded claims have been made about him," he said.
It is unclear what Nasser will do upon his release from prison in two months. He has requested to return to Lebanon, but Israel is expected to block him from doing so.
During Israel's last prisoner exchange with Hezbollah in October 2007, Hezbollah requested Nasser's release however Israel refused this on the grounds Nasser is an Israeli citizen. Following this, Nasser advised the Interior Ministry that he would like to forgo his citizenship, however he is currently still considered an Israeli resident.
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