An Israeli court has indicted a prominent Israeli Arab political activist and his brother as agents of the Lebanese guerrilla group Hizbollah and has accused them of setting up an armed cell to carry out attacks in Israel.
Jassan Atamallah, a member of the central committee of Balad, an Arab party with three legislators in the 120-seat Israeli parliament, and his brother Sarhan denied the charges against them in Nazareth District Court, their lawyer said.
Prosecutors alleged that Jassan Atamallah used business contacts in Turkey to arrange weapons and explosives training for Sarhan in Lebanon.
A statement by Israel's internal security service, Shin Bet, said the suspects were setting up an armed cell to launch attacks - including suicide bombings - when they were arrested two months ago.
Israeli Arabs, while generally sympathetic to the Palestinians, rarely take part in militancy.
Balad's chairman, lawmaker Azmi Bishara, said the case marked the first time an indictment for alleged anti-Israeli activities had been filed against one of the party's members.
"We fight for equal rights and a just peace, within a strictly legal framework. Even if the charges turn out to be true, these are the actions of individuals and do not reflect the movement's policies," Bishara told Ynet, the Internet site of Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
An Israeli convicted of collaborating with the enemy faces a minimum jail sentence of 10 years. The trial opens next week.