By Anees Barghouthy
JERUSALEM
Israeli authorities on Thursday announced the arrest last month of four Arab-Israeli drug dealers accused of having links with Lebanon's Hezbollah.
Shin Bet, Israel's domestic security agency, accused the four of trying to smuggle drugs and weapons into Israel through the Lebanese, Syrian and Jordanian borders in coordination with the Shiite militant group, Israel Radio reported.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the suspects are accused of engaging in "terrorist activity at the behest of Hezbollah."
Another 12 drug dealers have reportedly been arrested later based on information gleaned from the four initial suspects.
The arrests were kept under wraps for weeks, with Israel's military censor only permitting local media to report it on Thursday.
Hezbollah, for its part, has dismissed the allegations, which, it says, are part of a smear campaign against it.
"Hezbollah doesn't resort to such methods in its fight against Israel," a source close to Hezbollah told Anadolu Agency.
He added that Hezbollah responds to Israeli aggression when it wants to, in "strong, painful and well-executed" ways.
www.aa.com.tr/en
