An Israeli was arrested in Lebanon amid a murder and espionage investigation.
Daniel Sharon, 32, was arrested Saturday in Beirut, which he had apparently entered under a legally obtained German passport.
According to Lebanese reports, Sharon was being questioned in relation to a murder as well as on suspicion of spying for Israel. He has denied wrongdoing and told interrogators that he frequently comes to Beirut for liaisons with local gays, one newspaper reported.
Israeli officials had no immediate comment, though political sources said the case was of extreme concern to Jerusalem because Sharon risks being handed over to Hezbollah.
Veterans of Israeli intelligence agencies suggested it is unlikely Sharon was a spy given his disregard for “cover”: His name is too obviously Israeli and, according to a Lebanese media report, he brought his Israeli passport with him to Beirut — another faux pas.
Sharon’s relatives in Israel described him as confused. It was revealed that, as a youth, he was discharged from Israeli military service due to unsuitability, converted to Islam, and learned Arabic during trips to Jordan and United Arab Emirates.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
