1.
GV EXTERIOR Court
0.03

2.
SV PAN INTERIOR FROM Court officials TO Accused seated
0.16

3.
CU Accused leader arrives
0.25

4.
CU Shakib Abu Jabul
0.29

5.
SV People in court
0.32

6.
SV & CU Accused seated (2 shots)
0.50

7.
CU PAN Woman lawyer PAN TO Officials
0.56

8.
SV Male advocate speaks with accused & then addresses court (2 shots)
1.12

9.
SCU Accused standing
1.28

10.
GV Courtroom
1.31



Initials ESP/0115 ESP/0129



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The trial of eleven men opened in the deserted village of Kuneitra on the Golan Heights on Sunday (April 15). This was formerly Syrian territory, and they are accused of operating a spy and sabotage ring for the Syrians.

Israeli interrogators uncovered the ring in February and say it had been operating since the end of the six-day war in 1967.

The main defendant is Shakib Abu Jabal, head of a prominent Druze tribe. Seven of the eleven accused are members of his family and several of them travelled freely in israel as workers.

The Druzes are a group of Arabs who have adopted Christianity. Druze communities live quietly in Galilee and Mount Carmel, Haifa. Their leader has urged the Israeli authorities to punish "the ungrateful among our friendly community with the full severity of the law".

On the day of the trial, two Israeli Arabs were found guilty and a third acquitted in another spy and sabotage trial in Haifa. Twelve others have been found guilty and given prison sentences in recent weeks.

SYNOPSIS: The trial of eleven men opened in the deserted village of Kuneitra on the Golan Heights on Sunday. This was formerly Syrian territory, and the eleven are accused of operating a spy and sabotage ring for the Syrians.

The main defendant is Shakib Abu Jabal, head of a prominent Druze tribe. He personally handed over information to the Syrians in his orchards on the Golan Heights. He is being tried separately.

The Druzes are an Arab group practising Christianity.

Seven of the accused are members of Jabal's family. Some of them travelled extensively in Israel as itinerant workers. One of his sons was captured in the southern port of Eilat. Israeli interrogators uncovered the ring in February, but believe it has been operating since the end of the 1967 Arab/Israeli war.

On the day the trial opened, two Israeli arabs were found guilty and a third acquitted in another spy and sabotage trial in Haifa. Twelve others have been found guilty and given prison sentences in recent weeks.

The Druze have been very loyal to Israel supplying them soldiers for the Israeli forces. Druze communities live in galilee and Mount Carmel in Haifa. Their leader has urged the Israeli authorities to punish those who have sided with Israel's enemies.