Police  at Majdal Shams, 11.7.10
Police at Majdal Shams, 11.7.10Israel news photo: Flash 90

Security forces arrested on Tuesday an Arab resident of Baka Al-Gharbiya, in north-central Israel, in connection with a spy case that was first revealed to the public a week ago. Two other suspects, a Druze father and son from Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, were arrested last week.

The identity of the newly arrested suspect has not been revealed, and there is a gag order regarding the investigation. The suspect was to be brought before a court in Petach Tikva for remanding on  Tuesday.  

On the Sunday before last, the Israel Security Agency (ISA, Shin Bet) and the police's International Investigations Unit arrested Feeda Sha'er, a 27-year-old resident of Majdal Shams, immediately after he arrived at Ben Gurion Airport on a flight from Paris, on suspicion of espionage, contact with a foreign agent and aiding the enemy. On the same day, large scale rioting broke out in Majdal Shams when police arrived to conduct a search relating to the investigation.

On Wednesday, Sha'er's father, Majed, was arrested on suspicion of unspecified security-related offenses and attempting to interfere with the investigation. In a television interview before his arrest, Majed Sha'er said his son was a music student in Paris and that music was his sole interest.