Israeli Arab activist convicted of spying for Hezbollah

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give him the Pollard treatment. 25 years minimum for what was promised to be 10 years
Amir Makhoul, director of Ittijah, the Union of Arab Community-Based Associations (file pic) Amir Makhoul is an outspoken critic of Israel's treatment of Palestinians
An Israeli court has convicted a leading Israeli Arab activist of spying for Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group.
Amir Makhoul, 52, admitted to the charges in a plea bargain that will see him jailed for seven to 10 years.
Under the deal, prosecutors dropped the most serious charge - assisting an enemy in a time of war - for which he could have faced life in prison. He will be sentenced in November.
Makhoul was arrested in May, along with Israeli Arab activist Omar Sayid.
Charges against Mr Sayid were reduced in a plea bargain and he was freed last month after serving a seven-month jail term.
The Israeli press was initially barred from reporting on the case, but when the gag order was lifted, Israeli Arab pressure group Adalah said their arrest and interrogation had been conducted "in gross violation of their fundamental rights to due process".

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