Lebanese woman held for trying to contact Israel

Beirut: A Lebanese woman has been arrested over what judicial officials described Tuesday as attempts to make contact with Israel, the archenemy Lebanon considers itself to be at war with, banning its citizens from any communication with the Jewish state.

According to the officials, Ghada Al Aqili had tried to respond to phone messages asking for information about missing Israeli soldiers in Lebanon.

She was interrogated by a military prosecutor who later issued a formal arrest warrant against her, said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

The officials said Al Aqili, who was arrested last week, tried to make several calls to a number provided by an Israeli website demanding information. The site belongs to a foundation set up by the Israeli government and offers a US$10 million reward for information on missing Israelis.

Lebanese citizens have been receiving recorded telephone messages on cell phones and land lines periodically for more than a year asking people to view the website or call if they have information on missing Israeli soldiers, including Ron Arad, whose plane was shot down over Lebanon in 1986.

Israel has in the past refused to say if it was behind the calls.

After her indictment, Al Aqili is expected to be referred to a military court. Contacting Israel is punishable by up to life in prison with hard labour.

Earlier this year, the Lebanese army warned people not to respond to the recorded messages asking for information about missing Israeli soldiers. The Lebanese army said in June that the messages were a violation of Lebanese sovereignty and that any response would be considered "clear collaboration" with Israel.