An Israeli citizen was detained and questioned for two days in Lebanon after he landed in Beirut earlier this month for a connecting flight, Monday reports said.
The traveler, a businessman who also holds a French passport, was arrested upon arriving in Beirut, Channel 12 news reported.
He was released two days later, after other countries intervened at Israel’s request, the report said.
The man has connections to senior officials in Israel, according to Channel 12 and the Lebanese news outlet Al-Akhbar, which is affiliated with Lebanon’s Hezbollah terror group.
After his release, he was flown out of Lebanon, and warned against setting foot in any enemy territory, Channel 12 reported.
The man’s original destination was Iraq, Al Akhbar reported.
The National Security Council said in response to the incident, “The arrival of Israelis, even if they also hold a foreign passport, in enemy countries that are forbidden to go to by law, is extremely dangerous.”
“Going to these countries is prohibited including for connecting flights,” the council said, according to Walla news.
Under Israeli law, Lebanon is considered an enemy state and Israelis are banned from visiting the country.
Israel does not have ties with Lebanon or Iraq, but Israel has contacts with the autonomous Kurdistan region in northern Iraq.
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