Trial of German citizen for spying on Israeli

A Tel Aviv court has began examining the case of a man accused of planning a suicide attack in Israel for Hizbullah.

The Israeli internal security body arrested on November 28, 1997 German citizen and Muslim Stephen Joseph Smyrek, 26, as he arrived at Ben Gurion airport from Amsterdam. He has been accessed of planning a suicide attack in Israel. If he is convicted, he will be imprisoned for 15 years in Israel.

The Israeli court refused on January 12 to release Smyrek, due to the seriousness of the charges against him. Dan Assan, his lawyer, said the German authorities might present a demand to get Smyrek back because he is accused of many crimes in his country.