Larnaca - Two members of an Israeli anti-terrorism squad were jailed for three years in Cyprus yesterday for approaching a prohibited area during a military operation.
The two suspected Mossad agents, Igal Damary (49) and Udi Hargov (37), who were arrested on November 9th and initially charged with spying, were also given six-month jail terms by Judge George Arestis for possession of illegal listening equipment.
Damary and Hargov pleaded guilty to the charges of approaching a prohibited area and possession of banned listening devices. In exchange for the guilty pleas, state prosecutors agreed to drop the more serious charges of espionage and conspiracy to commit espionage.
Israel had initially refused to recognise that the two were Israeli agents, but issued statements saying they "were not acting against Cyprus or on behalf of Turkey."