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Lebanese artist faces charge of spying for Israel

BEIRUT, Nov 24 (KUNA) -- Ziad Ahmad Itani, a Lebanese actor, filmmaker and dramatist, was arrested under the charge of spying for, and contacting with, the Israeli enemy, the Lebanese General Directorate of State Security (GDSS) announced on Friday.
After months of monitoring and surveillance inside and outside Lebanon, a GDSS unit managed to collect concrete evidence implicating Itani in the crime of espionage, according to a statement by the Directorate.
During interrogation, the defendant confessed to being a spy for Israel and admitted that he was tasked with monitoring a number of senior politicians and establishing close links with their close aides.
He provided Israel with detailed information on two preeminent political figures, the statement said without naming the two figures.
The defendant has also set up a local cell to lobby for normalization of relations with Israel, advocate for Zionist ideology among the Lebanese intelligentsia, and report to Israel on the political developments in Lebanon over the last fortnight. (end) ayb.gb