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Last update - 10:31 11/05/2009 Did U.S. help Lebanon crack alleged Israeli spy rings? By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent and AP Tags: Israel News, U.S., Lebanon  Lebanon arrested five people over the weekend suspected of belonging to an intelligence cell transmitting information about Hezbollah to Israel, the most recent arrests in a two-month crackdown apparently aided by American training and equipment. Al Jazeera TV broadcast images on Sunday of a small table containing hidden communication devices, a modem concealing transmission equipment and forged passports - all allegedly used by the suspects. Hezbollah-controlled Al-Manar television reported that the suspects' job was to collect information on potential targets such as the group's installations and the homes of its leaders. Advertisement The suspects are among 17 people allegedly belonging to six espionage cells who have been arrested in Lebanon in the past two months on suspicion of transmitting intelligence information to Israel. It is unclear, however, if the cells are connected. Lebanese security sources indicated that the coming days might see the arrest of other suspected intelligence agents working for Israel. The sources attribute the recent arrests to improved cooperation between Lebanon's many security agencies, saying that with the help of better-trained personnel and access to more sophisticated equipment, the Internal Security Forces have been intensifying their efforts to uncover espionage networks as part of an attempt to develop a pan-Lebanese image. The Internal Security Forces have long been accused of representing the interests of Lebanese parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri, son of slain prime minister Rafik Hariri, and his supporters. "This organization is seen as a more reliable one than the army, which still appears to be close to Syria and Hezbollah," one of the sources said. The United States has provided $1 billion in aid since 2006, including $410 million in security assistance to the Lebanese military and police. But U.S. officials have said they would review aid to Lebanon depending on the results of the June 7 election, which could oust the U.S.-backed government. Israel has expressed reservations about American aid to the Lebanese army and security services, saying those organizations will ultimately be unable to contend with Hezbollah and that any aid is liable to serve Hezbollah's interests. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Conflicting messages Obama: I cannot tell Israel not to fear Teheran's nuclear ambitions Islamic Idol Arab pop music video channel airs Islamic version of American Idol.   1.   another fallout from the election of princess obama 11:41  |  samuel the seer 11/05/09   2.   samuel the seer lets hope not 11:56  |  joe shmo 11/05/09   3.   Good #1 11:57  |  Guy from NYC 11/05/09   4.   #1, sammuel the seer 12:02  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 11/05/09   5.   joe shmo"just good manners" 12:14  |  samuel the seer 11/05/09   6.   Too funny! I am sure US`s help with Lebanese`s Internal Security 12:35  |  JustMe 11/05/09   7.   samual the sneer 12:46  |  ashamed 11/05/09   8.   Israel was so stupid to share with US info obtained from Lebanon 13:01  |  Absolute Sweden 11/05/09   9.   GUY from NY Which borders do Iran recognise? 13:06  |  PETER SM 11/05/09   10.   On Bush`s Watch 13:08  |  American 11/05/09   11.   Look out, the paranoids will get you! 13:29  |  Mark Lincoln 11/05/09   12.   The bottom line 13:38  |  Mark Lincoln 11/05/09   13.   Good that the lebanese can protect themselves 13:58  |  jens 11/05/09   14.   JENS Who said they had to attack Israel in the first place 14:43  |  PETER SM 11/05/09   15.   JENS Who said they had to attack Israel in the first place 14:43  |  PETER SM 11/05/09   16.   M.LINCOLN they did all that without US equipment & training? 14:49  |  PETER SM 11/05/09   17.   ashamed i make no snide remarks on princess obama 14:57  |  samuel the seer 11/05/09   18.   the wealthy elite responsible for obama 15:01  |  samuel the seer 11/05/09   19.   miss kohn obama knew that james jones disliked israel 15:15  |  samuel the seer 11/05/09   20.   Israeli spy rings 15:25  |  Bert 11/05/09   21.   Peter SM 16:18  |  Mark Lincoln 11/05/09   22.   Obama or Osama 17:11  |  American 11/05/09   23.   Spy rings.... natural wonders never cease 17:28  |  allang 11/05/09   24.   little info to the seer; real ones do not show where 18:31  |  Kris Lazar 11/05/09   25.   samuel the seer #18 `slowlingly` ??? 19:29  |  joe shmo 11/05/09   26.   spy ring and read arabic 19:37  |  David 11/05/09   27.   samuel the sneer #18 `slowlingly` ??? 20:23  |  joe shmo 11/05/09   28.   samuel the sneer #18 `slowlingly` ??? 20:46  |  joe shmo 11/05/09   29.   answer to #1 21:59  |  ObamaMamma 11/05/09   30.   response to #22 22:07  |  Proud America 11/05/09   31.   samuel the sneer #18 `slowlingly` ??? 22:10  |  joe shmo 11/05/09   32.   Much also to do with Ehud Barak`s blunder & Arab love of a winner 22:13  |  Noam D. Blume 11/05/09   33.   funny 22:16  |  muntaser 11/05/09   34.   Mark Lincoln 23:29  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 11/05/09   35.   #19, samuel the seer 23:36  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 11/05/09   36.   muntaser/Funny... 00:07  |  Deacon2 12/05/09   37.   American # 22 But, certainly not a Pollard 00:10  |  American in NY 12/05/09   38.   Peter sm re:GUY from NY Which borders do Iran recognise? 00:13  |  American in NY 12/05/09   39.   allang # 23 spy ring natural wonders never cease. 00:17  |  American in NY 12/05/09   40.   Naomi # 28 Long ago the Lebanon border was "the Good Fence 00:21  |  American in NY 12/05/09   41.   joe shmo talk substance 00:33  |  samuel the seer 12/05/09   42.   Good for Lebannon! 00:47  |  Rafael 12/05/09   43.   Wrong move 01:56  |  Brod 12/05/09   44.   # 3 02:47  |  oz 12/05/09   45.   no worries 03:07  |  oz 12/05/09   46.   US betrays ISrael again 03:11  |  Sabra 12/05/09   47.   Al Jazeera 03:13  |  Angela 12/05/09   48.   jens 03:15  |  danish 12/05/09   49.   @3 guy from ny 04:40  |  neil 12/05/09   50.   Wicked BETRAYAL of Israel & the Free World via UN Resolution 1701 05:18  |  Linda Rivera 12/05/09   51.   Who Backed Obama? 08:17  |  Uncle Sam 12/05/09   52.   training the Lebanese is not... 12:50  |  seth 12/05/09   53.   allang # 23 spy ring natural wonders never cease. 15:08  |  American in NY 12/05/09   54.   Sabra # 33 Betrayal? 15:09  |  American in NY 12/05/09   55.   Obama Bow 17:40  |  newton 12/05/09   56.   Betrayal 17:56  |  newton 12/05/09   57.   Are really complaining 18:20  |  Dave Duncan 12/05/09   58.   AM in NY Israel has offered/accepted borders more than once 07:08  |  PETER SM 17/05/09   59.   Fallout 16:04  |  M Porter 18/05/09

Read & React Poll: 40% of Israeli Arabs deny Holocaust happened Responses: 69 Netanyahu to tell Obama: Time 'running out' on Iran Responses: 38 How will Obama's 'two-state solution' compare to Bush's? Responses: 16 Will Michelle Obama and Sara Netanyahu meet? Responses: 42 Interviewing Hitler's willing executioners Responses: 17 Cartoon: The coexistence experiment failed Responses: 3 More Headlines 15:40 Two suspected Lebanon spies flee to Israel 15:54 Shin Bet: Terrorists on Facebook trying to recruit Israeli spies 15:52 Israel begins new settlement, despite U.S. opposition 16:16 Obama, Netanyahu, two states and spoiled brats 15:28 Netanyahu to tell Obama: Time 'running out' on Iran 03:44 ANALYSIS / Netanyahu's problem will be the Palestinians, not Iran 05:20 Will Michelle Obama agree to meet Sara Netanyahu after all? 14:59 Funded by U.S. neocons, think tank researchers now carving Israeli policy 14:02 IN PICTURES / When Israeli premiers meet American presidents 00:06 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel 04:48 U.S. Jews seek clues to Obama Israel policy in Netanyahu visit 12:58 Police: Grandfather confessed to Rose murder when first questioned 11:28 Israeli unemployment rate expected to hit 8% next year 04:35 French priest interviews Hitler's willing executioners in Ukraine 09:47 Five arrested in Argentina for attacking Jews at Israel day rally Previous Editions Select Day 17 may 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may 11 may 10 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may

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