A Druse resident of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights has been arrested for allegedly passing on intelligence information on Israeli military positions to the Syrian intelligence, it was revealed for publication on Monday.

According to the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), Dr. Iad Johary admitted that between 2005 and 2008 he was in touch with various officials in Syrian intelligence agencies and was also in touch with him during his medical studies in Syria.

A resident of Majdal Shams, Johary was arrested at the Quneitra Crossing between Israel and Syria earlier this month. Johary left Israel in 2002 for medical studies in Syria and returned every summer up until 2008 when he remained in Syria to complete his exams, his cousin and lawyer Kisah Johary said at the time.

In 2009, he met a Druse woman from Syria and they decided to marry. The couple then decided to return to Majdal Shams where Johary planned to open a family medical practice.

Before each trip back to Israel during his studies, he was ordered by Syrian intelligence to gather information on IDF deployments in the Golan Heights, the Shin Bet said. Johary allegedly purchased equipment that he used to gather the information and then transfer it to the Syrians.

The Shin Bet said that Johary admitted to providing information about the locations of IDF bases in the North, about IDF training in the Golan Heights, IDF patrols along the Syrian border, about security measures at the Quneitra border crossing and about other residents of the Golan Heights who are opposed to the Syrian regime.

He also allegedly passed on to his Syrian handlers an Israeli communications device, papers about a military jeep he discovered and an Israeli cellular phone SIM card. Johary told his interrogators he assumed the equipment was used by the Syrians to eavesdrop on Israeli communications.

Johary also allegedly discussed his activities on behalf of the Syrian intelligence with two Druse friends in the Golan and asked them to pass on additional military information that could also be of interest to Syria. He and one of the friends also developed a code system that was used to send Johary information from Israel while he was studying in Syria about Israel patrols along the border.

Johary told his handlers about his friend and offered them a meeting with him during a trip his friend took to Jordan, which took place.

The state brought charges against Johary on Monday in the Nazareth District Court for allegedly maintaining contact with a foreign intelligence operative and passing information to the enemy. (© 1995- 2011, The Jerusalem Post 07/30/12)