Khaled Kashkush

Qalansuwa resident accused of receiving money from Lebanese national in Germany in exchange for information on possible candidates for recruitment to Shiite group

Raanan Ben-Zur Published:  08.06.08, 10:54 / Israel News 

A 29-year-old resident of the Arab-Israeli town of Qalansuwa was charged at the Petah Tikva District Court Wednesday with contacting a foreign agent with ties to Hizbullah and disclosing information to the enemy.

Khaled Kashkush was apprehended at Ben-Gurion Airport in a joint operation conducted by the Shin Bet and Israel Police.

According to the first indictment, during his medical studies in Germany Kashkush met once every two weeks with Lebanese physician Hashem Hassan, who heads a Hizbullah-affiliated organization that contributes to the children of slain Shiite group members.

The second indictment said that while in Germany Kashkush was given 2,000 euros from another Lebanese national with ties to Hizbullah in order to assist the Shiite group in its war on Israel. The Lebanese man asked the accused to look into the possibility of working at the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, where many Israeli soldiers who were wounded during the Second Lebanon War are still being treated.

During another meeting between the two in Germany last year, Kashkush gave the Lebanese national details on Arab-Israelis from Qalansuwa who reside in Germany in exchange for an additional 4,000 euros. The details focused on the Arabs' political views, financial status and religious inclinations.

In 2008 the Lebanese national presented Kashkush with aerial photos of Qalansuwa taken from Google Earth and asked him for explanations on the town and its surroundings. The man also urged the Arab-Israeli to check whether other Qalansuwa natives residing in Germany were experiencing financial difficulties and could be possible candidates for recruitment to Hizbullah.

Kashkush received another 5,000 euros during the final meeting, according to the indictment.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3578530,00.html

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Arrest of Hizbullah agent from Kalansua 
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
6 Aug 2008

Khaled Kashkoush, a resident of Kalansua in the West Bank, who has been studying medicine in Germany, was arrested on July 16. He was allegedly recruited in Germany by a Hizbullah handler and was instructed to carry out tasks for a sum of 13,000 Euros.
    
(Communicated by Israeli security sources)
 
Khaled Kashkoush, born in 1979, single, originally from Kalansua, has been residing in recent years in Germany, studying medicine in Gottingen, Germany. He was arrested on July 16, 2008 at Ben Gurion Airport upon his arrival in Israel in a joint operation of Israel Security Agency and the Israel Police National Serious and International Crime Unit, for alleged security offenses. Following his arrest, Kashkoush was transferred for questioning, during which he revealed his ties with Hizbullah.

Initial ties with Hizbullah

In 2002 Khaled met Dr. Hisham Hassan through a family relative. Dr. Hisham is Lebanese, residing in Germany and heads the branch of Orphaned Children Project Lebanon, belonging to Hizbullah and operating to raise funds for the Lebanese Martyr Institute, which was designated in Israel. Lebanese Martyr Institute assists Hizbullah civil infrastructure in Lebanon, including assistance to families of suicide bombers in Lebanon (see appendix below).

After a few meetings, Hisham suggested that Khaled establish business relationship with a Lebanese, called Rami, who, according to Hisham, would be able to assist Khaled. In December 2005, Khaled met Rami, who later identified himself as Mazen, in Erfurt, Germany. In their first meeting Khaled was asked to buy a "clean" cell phone and set the meetings by e-mail.

In their second meeting, in December 2006, in Erfurt, Germany, the Lebanese handler, aka Mazen, revealed that he is a Hizbullah member. Afterwards, the two met in April 2007 and January 2008 in Frankfurt, Germany. The handler, who identified himself as Rami and then Mazen, is known to security elements by the name of Mohamad Hashem, about 50, originally from Lebanon, an experienced Hizbullah senior handler. Mohamad Hashem frequently visits in various countries for meetings with Hizbullah agents to give instructions and money and receive information.

Activity of Khaled Kashkush for Hizbullah

As revealed during questioning, Khaled Kashkush was asked to provide the Hizbullah handler with information on Israel, including names of Israeli citizens studying abroad aiming to recruit them to Hizbullah. In addition, Khaled attempted to get a job at one of the hospitals in Israel in order to gather information on members of the security forces or soldiers hospitalized there. In one of the meetings Khaled held with the handler, the latter showed him the map of the town of Kalansua loaded off Google Earth, and asked him to locate on the map the addresses of local residents or public buildings.

It also became clear that due to his ties to Hizbullah, Khaled underwent a basic guidance on security conduct intended to prevent his exposure.  

Khaled received 13,000 Euros for his Hizbullah activity.

When questioned about the ties of Hisham Hassan, with whom Khaled Kashkush began his activity, the activity of another Hizbullah agent was revealed - Ayman Kamel Shhade who was born in 1967 from Hebron. Ayman Shhade is known to the ISA for his association with Hizbullah. 

Since the pullout of the IDF from southern Lebanon in May 2000 the Hizbullah increased its activity vis a vis Israeli citizens, wishing to establish an intelligence and operational infrastructure to gather valuable information about Israel and execute lethal attacks on its territory. The need of Hizbullah to gather valuable information increased following the Second Lebanon War.

This investigation is another proof that Hizbullah considers Israeli Arabs an attractive target for recruitment and handling. Hizbullah wishes to benefit from their citizenship status, with no problems of movement and access to various sites in Israel. This fact assists in gathering relevant information: strategic information, such as security sites and main traffic arteries, as well as tactical information, such as information about Israeli towns. Thus, as part of Hizbullah modus operandi, Hizbullah approaches Israeli Arabs staying abroad to recruit them.

Furthermore, the fact that Hizbullah has not yet been designated as a terrorist organization in Europe and hence is considered a legitimate organization, enables the organization to act undisturbed, to recruit and handle agents, using allegedly legitimate platforms, such as charity societies and organizations. Israeli security elements are concerned over Hizbullah activity in various European countries, including attempts to recruit Israeli citizens, as was indicated in this investigation.

Appendix - Orphaned Children Project Lebanon and the Lebanese Martyr Institute

Dr. Hisham Hasan who recruited Khaled Kashkoush and introduced him to a Hizbullah handler, is the head of Orphaned Children Project Lebanon in Germany (Waisenkinderprojekt Libanon e.V). This association supports the Lebanese Martyr Institute, which was designated in Israel due to its support of Hizbullah. Thus, for example, the Orphaned Children Project Lebanon website (www.wkplibanon.de) explicitly states that all funds raised for the orphans' adoption project are transferred directly to the bank account of the Lebanese Martyr's Institute.

The Martyrs Foundation (Bonjad Ashahid) is originally an Iranian organization, founded to assist family members of the Iran-Iraq war victims. The Lebanese Martyr's Institute was established according to the Iranian format.

The Lebanese Martyr's Institute is known to be an organization raising funds for Hizbullah to strengthen the organization in Lebanon. This institute is part of a wide network of institutions and charity societies founded by Hizbullah in Lebanon; it operates in various fields: welfare, economics, culture and communications. One of its goals is the dissemination of Hizbullah ideology amongst Lebanese population. With the aid of these institutions Hizbullah attained a widespread influence on the Shiite population in Lebanon and other places in the world.

In 2007 the US Department of Treasury designated the Iran-based Martyrs Foundation and all its branches in Lebanon and USA (Goodwill Charitable Organization) as organizations providing support for Hizbullah, since they finance its activity.
 
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Terrorism+from+Lebanon-+Hizbullah/Arrest+of+Hizbullah+agent+from+Kalansua+6-Aug-2008.htm

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Released by the Israel Government Press Office
August 6th 2008
Subject: Arrest of an Alleged Hizballah Agent from Kalansua

On July 16th 2008, in a joint operation of Israeli Security Agency and the
Police National Serious and International Crime Unit, Khaled Kashkoush was
arrested; Kashkoush is a resident of Kalansua, who has been staying in
Germany in recent years, studying medicine. Khaled was allegedly recruited
in Germany by a Hizballah handler and was requested to carry out tasks for a
sum of 13,000 Euros, which he received from his handler.

Khaled Kashkoush, born in 1979, single, originally from Kalansua, has been
residing in recent years in Germany, studying medicine in Gottingen/Germany;
he was arrested on July 16th 2008 in Ben Gurion Airport upon his entrance
into Israel, due to alleged commission of security offences. Following his
arrest, Kashkoush was transferred for ISA and Police National Serious and
International Crime Unit interrogation. In his ISA interrogation Kashkoush
revealed his ties with Hizballah.

Initial Ties with Hizballah:

In 2002 Khaled met Dr. Hisham Hassan through a family relative. Dr. Hisham
is Lebanese, residing in Germany and heads the branch of Orphaned Children
Project Lebanon, belonging to Hizballah and operating to raise funds for the
Lebanese Martyr Institute, which was designated in Israel. Lebanese Martyr
Institute assists Hizballah civil infrastructure in Lebanon, including
assistance to families of suicide bombers in Lebanon (see Appendix).

After a few meetings, Hisham suggested that Khaled establishes business
relationship with a Lebanese, called Rami, who - according to Hisham - will
be able to assist Khaled.

In December 2005, Khaled met Rami, who later identified himself as Mazen, in
Erfurt/Germany. In their first meeting Khaled was asked to buy a "clean"
cell phone and set the meetings by e-mail.

In their second meeting, in December 2006, in Erfurt/Germany, the Lebanese
handler, aka Mazen, revealed he is a Hizballah member. Afterwards, the two
met in April 2007 and January 2008 in Frankfurt/Germany.

The handler, who identified himself as Rami and then Mazen, is known to
security elements by the name of Mouhamad Hashem, about 50, originally from
Lebanon, an experienced Hizballah senior handler. Mouhamad Hashem frequently
visits in various countries for meetings with Hizballah agents to give
instructions and money and receive information.

Activity of Khaled Kashkush for Hizballah

According to the interrogation, Khaled Kashkush was asked to provide the
Hizballah handler with information on Israel, including names of Israeli
citizens studying abroad aiming to recruit them to Hizballah. In addition,
Khaled attempted to get a job at one of the hospitals in Israel in order to
gather information on members of the security forces or soldiers
hospitalized there.

In one of the meetings Khaled held with the handler, the latter showed him
the map of the town of Kalansua loaded off Google Earth, and asked him to
locate on the map the addresses of local residents or public buildings.

It also became clear that due to his ties to Hizballah, Khaled underwent a
basic guidance on security conduct which is to prevent his exposure.
As stated earlier, Khaled received 13,000 euros for his Hizballah activity.

When asked about the ties of Hisham Hassan with whom Khaled Kashkush began
his activity, the activity of another Hizballah agent was revealed - Ayman
Kamel Shhade who was born in 1967 from Hebron. Ayman Shhade is known to the
ISA for his association with Hizballah.

Since the pullout of the IDF from southern Lebanon in May 2000 the Hizballah
increased its activity vis a vis Israeli citizens, wishing to establish an
intelligence and operational infrastructure to gather valuable information
about Israel and execute lethal attacks on its territory. The need of
Hizballah to gather valuable information increased following the Second
Lebanon War.

This investigation is another proof that Hizballah considers Israeli Arabs
an attractive target for recruitment and handling. Hizballah wishes to
benefit from their citizenship status, with no problems of movement and
access to various sites in Israel. This fact assists in gathering relevant
information: strategic information, such as security sites and main traffic
arteries, as well as tactical information, such as information about Israeli
towns.

Thus, and as part of Hizballah Modus Operandi, Hizballah approaches Israeli
Arabs staying abroad to recruit them; it was revealed in the subject's
interrogation.
Furthermore, the fact that Hizballah has not yet been designated as a
terrorist organization in Europe and hence is considered a legitimate
organization, enables the organization to act, undisturbed, to recruit and
handle agents, using allegedly legitimate platforms, such as charity
societies and organizations.

Israeli security elements are concerned over Hizballah activity in various
European countries, including attempts to recruit Israeli citizens, as was
indicated in this investigation.

Appendix - Orphaned Children Project Lebanon and the Lebanese Martyr
Institute

Dr. Hisham Hasan who saw the benefits of recruiting Khaled Kashkoush and
introduced him to a Hizballah handler, is the head of Orphaned Children
Project Lebanon in Germany (WAISENKINDERPROJECT LIBANON E.V DEUTCHLAND).
This association supports the Lebanese Martyr Institute, which was
designated in Israel due to its support of Hizballah. Thus, for example, in
the Orphaned Children Project Lebanon website (www.wkplibanon.de) it was
formerly stated that all the funds raised for Orphans' Adoption project are
transferred directly to the bank account of the Lebanese Martyr Institute.

The Martyrs Foundation (Bonjad Ashahid) is originally an Iranian
organization, founded to assist family members of the Iran-Iraq War victims.
The Lebanese Martyr Institute was established according to the Iranian
format.

The Lebanese Martyr Institute is known to be an organization raising funds
for Hizballah to strengthen the organization in Lebanon. This institute is
part of a wide network of institutions and charity societies founded by
Hizballah in Lebanon; it operates in various fields: welfare, economics,
culture and communications. One of its goals is the dissemination of
Hizballah ideology amongst Lebanese population. With the aid of these
institutions Hizballah attained a widespread influence on the Shiite
population in Lebanon and other places in the world.

In 2007 the US Department of Treasury designated the Iran-based Martyrs
Foundation and all its branches in Lebanon and USA (Goodwill Charitable
Organization) as organizations providing support for Hizballah, since they
finance its activity.