Lebanese national Elie Toufiq al-Hayek escaped across the southern border into Israel at dawn Monday, a security source told AFP. The source conveyed Hayek is a mathematics professor who lived in the border town of Qleiaa.
He added Hayek, 49, fled to Israel through a concrete wall between the villages of Rmeish and Yaroun, a few kilometers from the border. Hayek, who is from Mieh Mieh east of the southern port city of Sidon, is married with three children.
It was not clear why Hayek, who suffers from paralysis and walks on crutches, fled. His escape came following a massive security search for Israel-linked agents. In recent days, news surfaced about Hayek's alleged involvement in one of the espionage cells recently arrested in Lebanon.
Reports in Lebanon said Lebanese army searched on Monday the home of Hayek in Miyeh Miyeh after he fled to Israel. On its part, Hizbullah's Al-Manar TV said Lebanese authorities will ask UNIFIL to help repatriate those who have escaped to Israel in violation of resolution 1701.
