JERUSALEM, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- An Israeli-Arab from northern Israel is to be charged with being an Iranian spy, police officials told Israel Radio Tuesday.
Muhammad Ghanem of the Arab-Israeli town of Baka al-Gharbiya was allegedly recruited by Iranian agents to gather intelligence and recruit Israeli students to aid him in his missions, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Shin Bet, the Israeli security agency, said Ghanem was arrested Sept. 11 and interrogated by the agency's counterintelligence branch.
Shin Bet officials told Israel Radio they believe Ghanem was apprehended before he could cause any significant damage, but the security officials admitted some of the information he transferred to Iran might have been important.
Ghanem is expected to be formally charged Wednesday with assisting the enemy in time of war, passing secret information to Iran, and being in contact with foreign agents, the Post said.
Chanem has reportedly appealed his arrest several times to district courts and Israel's Supreme Court, but officials said all of the appeals were rejected.
