JERUSALEM (AP), An Israeli court sentenced a Palestinian woman living in east Jerusalem to 30 month imprisonment, probation, and a fine for her confession of aiding Lebanon's Hezbollah militant organization over many years.Yasmine Jaber, who was part of a plea deal, was convicted of charges including association with a foreign agent and membership in a terrorist group.According to the charge sheet, she had been in touch with two Hezbollah agents via Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. One of them invited her to a conference in Beirut on the Palestinian cause. It said that she had traveled to the region twice in 2015 and 2016 in violation Israeli law and kept in touch with Hezbollah operatives for several years.In her ruling, the Jerusalem District Court judge stated that Jaber had admitted her actions and took responsibility. Jaber also has no previous record. Jaber was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment beginning August 4, with 12 months probation and a fine of 5,000 shekel ($1,500).The Shin Bet's internal security service stated that Jaber was recruited in August 2020 by Hezbollah operatives during a conference in 2015. They asked her to recruit other east Jerusalemites. According to the Shin Bet, Jaber traveled to Istanbul several times to meet Hezbollah agents and exchanged information via social media.Her family released a statement in which they denied the allegations.Hezbollah is Israel's most immediate military threat. In 2006, the two sides reached a disastrous stalemate. Hezbollah's rocket arsenal has grown dramatically since then and it is now believed that it can strike anywhere in Israel.In 1967, Israel captured East Jerusalem and annexed it within a few days. This move was not recognised by the majority of the international community. Israel regards the whole city as its capital. The Palestinians, however, want east Jerusalem to be their capital.
