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Last update - 18:14 18/05/2009
Two suspected Lebanon spies flee to Israel
By Haaretz Service and News Agencies
Tags: Israel news, Lebanon spy

Two Lebanese men suspected of spying for Israel fled across the heavily fortified border to Israel Monday, as security officials also said authorities arrested two more alleged Lebanese collaborators.

The Lebanese government has intensified its campaign against suspected spies for Israel in recent weeks, arresting more than a dozen people. Lebanon considers itself at war with Israel, and spying for or collaborating with the country can be punishable by death.

The arrests, mainly in southern Lebanon, appear to be part of a stepped-up campaign against those suspected of gathering information on Hezbollah
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ilitants for Israel's Mossad intelligence agency. Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrillas fought a 34-day war with Israel in 2006 that killed 1,200 people in Lebanon and 159 in Israel.

The two men who escaped to Israel on Monday crossed the border near the
village of Yaroun with their children, said a senior military official.

It was the second time suspected spies have escaped to Israel since the
government stepped up its arrests. A man wanted by authorities escaped in a similar manner on May 5, said a top security official.

It was unclear how they managed get past the border fence without triggering the electronic alarms that have alerted Israelis to similar infiltrations in the past. Lebanese citizens who try to sneak into Israel are normally detained, questioned and sent back to Lebanon.

There was no immediate word from Israel, which has declined to comment on the recent espionage allegations.

Meanwhile, authorities arrested two suspected spies over the weekend in
southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley, said security officials.
Security forces seized transmission devices in related raids, they said.

The officials all spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not
authorized to talk to the media.

Nine of the 15 people arrested in recent weeks have been charged with
collaborating with Israel. They include a retired general, his wife and his nephew, a government security agent.

Last week, police displayed sophisticated devices they said were seized from Palestinians living in the country and from Lebanese recruited by Israel to spy on Hezbollah.

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      1.   is israel becoming a safe haven... 15:49  |  ClearCut 18/05/09
      2.   well 15:57  |  dave 18/05/09
      3.   After the AIPAC affair, possibly more of our spies 16:01  |  Ari 18/05/09
      4.   Israel`s intelligence agencies need to protect their assets 16:07  |  Mark Leaman 18/05/09
      5.   # 1....You did know that.... 16:14  |  Wolf 18/05/09
      6.   Israel is becoming a haven... 16:19  |  Charles 18/05/09
      7.   ...for outlaws, murderers and theives? 16:29  |  Dov 18/05/09
      8.   Israel has every right to spy on Hizbollah 16:47  |  Conroy 18/05/09
      9.   spies or........... 17:00  |  Arie 18/05/09
      10.   Ari - "spying on us?" 17:02  |  Arie 18/05/09
      11.   So Lebanon can receive Kuntar but Israel cannot let in "spies" 17:15  |  McQueen 18/05/09
      12.   U.S. really it blew it by helping Lebanon 17:16  |  McQueen 18/05/09
      13.   "Flee"I would flee that murdering Hizbullah place;can anyone 17:18  |  glenna 18/05/09
      14.   those who betray their own country 17:22  |  Yael 18/05/09
      15.   lebanon 17:23  |  Ray 18/05/09
      16.   whats next? 17:24  |  vik 18/05/09
      17.   #10 - Arie - Pathetic Attempts at Insults 17:42  |  Ari 18/05/09
      18.   #10 - Arie - What are you talking about??? 17:43  |  Ari 18/05/09
      19.   Looks like an admission of guilt 17:46  |  Tim 18/05/09
      20.   those who betray their own country 17:48  |  newyorkone 18/05/09
      21.   Israel is a Sanctuary for Outlaws! How Many Jews Have fled 17:59  |  Monitor 18/05/09
      22.   CleacrCut - seeing as Lebanon gave 18:19  |  ChanahS 18/05/09
      23.   #10 Arie - You`re so wrong 18:26  |  Ari 18/05/09
      24.   Spies. Israeli or Islamists????? 19:00  |  Bronson 18/05/09
      25.   all of ur argumants re insane and mr monitor 19:02  |  dave 18/05/09
      26.   "Pathetic Attempts at Insults" 19:06  |  Arie 18/05/09
      27.   Hizbulla election stunt? 19:18  |  Realist 18/05/09
      28.   "Ari" in Manchester 19:18  |  Arie 18/05/09
      29.   Monitor - your ignorance is showing 19:21  |  Arie 18/05/09
      30.   # 2 DAVE 19:53  |  Allan 18/05/09
      31.   spies 19:55  |  KR 18/05/09
      32.   Arie 20:02  |  John 18/05/09
      33.   Hmm Sounds like Hezbo`s are prepping for a round 2 maybe??? 20:07  |  C-Low 18/05/09
      34.   Bad bad news.... 20:27  |  Norwegian 18/05/09
      35.   Yankees Go Home 20:49  |  Mark 18/05/09
      36.   allan 21:15  |  dave 18/05/09
      37.   If they been able to get through meant that 21:51  |  Matahari 18/05/09
      38.   John and the Daily Mail 23:13  |  Arie 18/05/09
      39.   Spying Biz 2 02:34  |  Confused 19/05/09
      40.   MEIR DAGAN ENJOYS THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT 08:48  |  Fortuna Benmayor 20/05/09
      41.   Good point, Norwegian # 34 08:50  |  Fortuna Benmayor 20/05/09
      42.   spies 04:17  |  bob 16/07/09
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