Israel indicted two Arab citizens for allegedly training with Hezbollah to carry out suicide bombings -- the latest sign that the Lebanese guerrilla group is becoming a main sponsor of militants fighting Israel.
The suspects, who are brothers, denied the charges on Sunday.
Israel and Hezbollah, bitter enemies for two decades, completed a prisoner swap on Jan. 29, but the deal -- which also led to the release of 400 Palestinians from Israeli prisons -- did not reduce the tensions between them.
Instead, it raised Hezbollah's prestige among Palestinians.
Israeli officials warn that Hezbollah is becoming a factor to reckon in the bloody conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, now in its fourth year.
"Hezbollah has increased its activity" and constitutes "the major threat coming from the outside" of the country, said Daniel Seaman, a government spokesman.
Palestinian militants said they receive thousands of dollars from Hezbollah for organizing attacks, including suicide bombings.
Israel and Hezbollah fought a bloody guerrilla war in south Lebanon from 1982 until Israel's sudden withdrawal in 2000, but periodic clashes continue across the border.
The indictment of the Israeli Arab brothers underlined the contention of Israeli security officials that Hezbollah had succeeded in getting a foothold in the Palestinian uprising against Israel and was also recruiting supporters among Israel's Arab minority.
The brothers, Ghassan and Sirhan Atmala from northern Israel, allegedly underwent explosives training in Lebanon and were in contact with Hezbollah members in Turkey and Jordan with the intent of carrying out terror attacks, according to the indictment.
The suspects were arrested last month, but the Shin Bet security service allowed publication of the case only on Sunday. The suspects denied the allegations.
The Shin Bet says that the number of Israeli Arabs recruited by militants is still small, but growing.
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