Ex-Hezbollah captive off to house arrest

TEL AVIV, Israel, March 30 (UPI) -- An Israeli magistrate court Tuesday released to house arrest an Israeli businessman whom Hezbollah repatriated 70 days ago.

The businessman, Elchanan Tenenboim, reportedly fell into a Hezbollah trap in late 2000 when he went for a drug smuggling scheme. He was kidnapped in the Persian Gulf and spent more than three years in Lebanon.

A deal struck with him, following his repatriation, provided he not be tried if he tells the whole truth.

Tenenboim attorney Eli Zohar told army radio he fulfilled his part of the deal. Maariv quoted police investigators as saying Tenenboim has not has not provided "complete, detailed versions" of events and deal should be off.

Since his return Tenenboim was held at a police facility and now will be confined to his sister's home. He may not speak to people mentioned in his investigation, journalists, watch television, use the Internet or read newspapers, Israel Radio and Maariv said.