IDF court jails Israeli Arab tracker for spying for Hezbollah

A Tel Aviv military court on Thursday sentenced an Israeli Arab tracker in the Israel Defense Forces to 11 years jail time for spying for the Lebanese militia Hezbollah.

The court convicted Sgt. Maj. Louai Balut, the army's first Christian tracker, of giving the Shi'ite group sensitive military information and holding contact with a foreign agent while serving on Israel's northern border. The material he handed Hezbollah agents pertained to the deployment of IDF forces.

In addition to the jail time, the court also ordered Balut's discharge from the army. The tracker protested during the trial that he was "no traitor and no spy."

Balut's conviction was the result of a plea bargain, according to which the prosecution removed graver charges of treason and aiding the enemy in wartime. The harshest possible punishment for these offenses is a life sentence.

While the affair was connected to alleged offenses of drug smuggling, they were not mentioned in the indictment against Balut, 35.

Authorities learned of Balut's activities after two Lebanese men were arrested on the northern border attempting to smuggle illicit drugs into Israel. During their interrogation they spoke of Balut's involvement, and he was subsequently arrested in February.

According to the indictment, Balut was in phone contact with Hezbollah agents and transferred them the information from December 2007 until his arrest earlier this year.

Balut, a married father of three children, is a resident of the western Galilee village of Fasuta. His family said during the course of the trial that, "he feels betrayed by the establishment, and in the end, he's being scapegoated."

They said he was am excellent soldier and presented as evidence a certificate of esteem he received upon completing 15 years of military service, including during the Second Lebanon War.

	Sgt. Maj. Louis Balut appearing before Haifa military court in March. (Tomer Neuberg / Jini)