Israeli Arab imprisoned for 30 months for joining rebel fighters in Syria

JERUSALEM – A court in central Israel has sentenced an Israeli Arab to 30 months imprisonment for joining rebels in Syria.

Hichmat Masawary, 29, entered Syria from Turkey and spent six days there training with rebels, according to Monday's court verdict.

Syrian rebels asked Masawary for information about Israel's nuclear reactor and weapons Israeli soldiers use in the West Bank, said his lawyer, Helal Jaber. They also asked him to carry out a suicide bombing in Syria or Israel, but he refused, Jaber said.

Israel and Syria are bitter enemies.

Masawary told the court he went to look for his younger brother, who entered Syria about a month earlier to fight alongside rebels against President Bashar Assad's regime. His brother's whereabouts are unknown.

Israel is trying to stay out of Syria's conflict.