Israel filed an indictment Thursday against the Israeli-Arab political activist Amir Makhoul, charging him with espionage, assisting an enemy at a time of war and maintaining contact with an enemy agent from the Lebanese Hezbollah organisation, DPA reported.
Makhoul denied the accusations, accusing the Israeli Shin Bet internal security organisation of controlling the trial and threatening the court.
"I reject all the charges," he said.
According to the indictment, Makhoul provided the Iranian-backed Hezbollah information about Israeli military bases, Shin Bet facilities and defence industries.
In addition, he allegedly provided Hezbollah with information on where the rockets they launched at Israel fell during the 2006 war between the Jewish state and the Shiite organisation.
The indictment also states that Makhoul admitted under questioning that he met with a Hezbollah agent in Denmark in 2008 and consented to serve as a secret informant for the organisation.
One of Makhoul's attorneys, Hussein Abu Hussein, said his client's confession was extracted by force and had no validity.
"We are confident that when matters come to light, shocking testimony will be heard here about the wrongful means that were used by Amir Makhoul's interrogators," he said.
Makhoul's trial will begin on June 21.
Makhoul, the brother of a former legislator and the head of a network of Arab organizations in Israel, was arrested in late April together with another Israeli-Arab, Omar Abdo Said.
Said was also indicted in the Nazareth Magistrates Court Thursday, on charges of being in contact with a foreign agent and for handing over information liable to help the enemy.
Israeli-Arab indicted for espionage, helping Hezbollah
