Aid for Australian jailed in Israel

THE Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to a New South Wales man who has been jailed in Israel for assisting the Islamist Hamas movement.

By InvestSMART · 7 Jan 2012

By InvestSMART ·
7 Jan 2012

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THE Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to a New South Wales man who has been jailed in Israel for assisting the Islamist Hamas movement.

Eyad Rashid Abuarga, 47, was on Thursday sentenced to 30 months' jail, along with an 18-month suspended sentence, as part of a plea bargain for pleading guilty "to providing services to an illegal organisation".

The organisation is Hamas, the militant Palestinian group that rules the Gaza Strip but is outlawed in Israel.

The dual Australian-Jordanian national was detained on March 24, 2011, when he arrived at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, where he was planning to enter the country on his Australian passport. He was living in Saudi Arabia at the time.

The computer technician was originally charged with "belonging to an illegal organisation".

According to the indictment, he helped Hamas with the acquisition of various computer devices, electronic equipment, encrypted mobile phones, panoramic photo equipment and technology for guiding missiles.

In the indictment, the prosecution said he had worked for Hamas for four years and stressed "the seriousness of his being recruited to help the terrorist activities of Hamas with the aim of harming the state of Israel".

After expressing his intention to visit Israel, Mr Abuarga was tasked with photographing commercial centres, collecting maps and making contact with commercial businesses, the indictment alleged.

The defence said he had expressed "sincere remorse" for his actions. He has 45 days in which to appeal the ruling.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the man and his family," a DFAT spokesperson said yesterday.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

Who is Eyad Rashid Abuarga and why was he in the news as an Australian jailed in Israel?

Eyad Rashid Abuarga is a 47-year-old dual Australian–Jordanian national and computer technician who was detained at Ben Gurion Airport on March 24, 2011. He was sentenced in Israel after pleading guilty to providing services to an illegal organisation — identified in the indictment as Hamas.

What charges did the Israeli authorities bring against the Australian jailed in Israel?

According to the indictment, Abuarga was originally charged with belonging to an illegal organisation. He later pleaded guilty as part of a plea bargain to providing services to an illegal organisation (Hamas).

What sentence did he receive for providing services to an illegal organisation?

He was sentenced to 30 months’ jail plus an 18-month suspended sentence as part of a plea bargain after pleading guilty.

What did the indictment say he allegedly did to assist Hamas?

The indictment alleged he helped Hamas acquire computer devices, electronic equipment, encrypted mobile phones, panoramic photo equipment and technology for guiding missiles. It also said he photographed commercial centres, collected maps and made contacts with commercial businesses after expressing an intention to visit Israel.

When and where was the Australian detained, and where was he living at the time?

He was detained on March 24, 2011, at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv when he arrived and planned to enter Israel on his Australian passport. The article says he was living in Saudi Arabia at the time.

Is the Australian government providing help to the jailed man and his family?

Yes. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is providing consular assistance to the man and his family, according to a DFAT spokesperson quoted in the article.

Does the convicted Australian have the right to appeal the Israeli court ruling?

Yes. The article states he has 45 days in which to appeal the ruling.

Did the defence or prosecution make statements about his conduct or intent?

The prosecution said he worked for Hamas for four years and stressed the seriousness of his recruitment to support terrorist activities. The defence said he expressed 'sincere remorse' for his actions.