Avraham Sinai (Hebrew: אברהם סיני; born December 15, 1962) is a former Hezbollah member who spied for Israel. Originally named Ibrahim Yassin (Arabic: إبراهيم ياسين), he fled from Lebanon to Israel in 1997 and later converted from Shia Islam to Judaism.
Life in Lebanon
editSinai was born Ibrahim Yassin in a Shi'ite village in eastern Lebanon in 1964. During the Lebanese Civil War, his family was affiliated with the South Lebanese Army.[1]
Sinai became disillusioned with the actions of Palestinian militant groups and the Syrian Army during the Lebanese Civil War. He claimed that Palestinian militants had tied his daughter between two cars, then drove the cars in opposite directions.[2]
During the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, Sinai sought and received help from the Israel Defense Force (IDF) while his wife was giving birth. His wife was flown via helicopter to Rambam Hospital in Haifa, Israel. After this event, Sinai began providing information to Israel until he was caught by Hezbollah.[2]
According to Sinai, Hezbollah members kidnapped, questioned, and tortured him. In an interview with the Times of Israel, he claimed that future Hezbollah leader Imad Mughniyeh, then a young member of the organization, was his "chief tormenter," even burning Sinai's newborn in front of him. After his release, Sinai began more actively spying for Israel.[2]
Activities for Israel
editFor 10 years, Sinai passed information to the IDF via meetings along the Israel-Lebanon border. His primary handler in the IDF was Yoav Mordechai, future Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. He was considered an excellent agent for the information he provided to Israel.[2]
Life in Israel
editIn 1997, Sinai was smuggled into Israel from Lebanon. His entire family, including his wife and seven children, settled in Safed.[2][1]
After attending synagogue services on Yom Kippur in 2000, he decided to become a Jew. After years of study, he was converted by Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, chief rabbi of Safed.[1] Sinai would eventually become a rabbi himself.[2]
Sinai is the author of A Martyr from Lebanon: Life in the Shadow of Danger, which describes some of his experiences.[3]
Personal
editFour of Sinai's sons have joined the IDF. His son Amos served in the Golani Brigade[2] and his son Haim was in the Givati Brigade.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "The Muslim Spy who Became a Jew". The Israel Wire. 2014-08-18. Archived from the original on 2019-05-12. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
- ^ a b c d e f g Staff (2016-05-14). "From Hezbollah to Israeli army: The extraordinary journey of a father and son". Times of Israel. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ Avni, Idan (2006-09-14). "A righteous man from Hizbullah land". YNetNews. Retrieved 2006-12-17.