Israeli professor says he has been arrested by the US for political reasons

[Emily]

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-732050
Israeli professor arrested on suspicion of arms trafficking to China, Libya
Gal Luft rejected the accusations leveled against him and claimed he was arrested in relation to Hunter Biden's criminal investigation.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Published: FEBRUARY 19, 2023 17:18

Israeli professor Gal Luft was arrested on Thursday at the Larnaca International Airport, in southern Cyprus, after Interpol issued an arrest warrant against him on suspicion of arms trafficking to Libya and China, according to Ynet.

According to Israeli and Cypriot reports, he was arrested at the airport as he was boarding a plane back to Israel. Luft is further suspected of conspiracy to commit serious felonies, as well as making false statements and other unspecified offenses he has allegedly committed since 2015.

Luft: US trying to silence me to protect Biden family

The Israeli professor confirmed his arrest in a Sunday morning tweet, alleging that his arrest by Cypriot police was part of a 'politically motivated extradition request' by the United States.

Luft went on to deny suspicions leveled against him, affirming that he has "never been an arms dealer" and further claiming that the US Justice Department is "trying to bury me to protect [US President Joe] Biden" and his family.

I've been arrested in Cyprus on a politically motivated extradition request by the US.The US, claiming I'm an arms dealer. It would be funny if it weren't tragic.I've never been an arms dealer.DOJ is trying to bury me to protect Joe,Jim&Hunter Biden.Shall I name names?

— Gal Luft (@GalLuft) February 19, 2023...​

 

[Emily]

http://www.iags.org/galluft.htm

Dr. Gal Luft is co-director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS) a Washington based think tank focused on energy, security, and economic trends. He is a senior adviser to the United States Energy Security Council, a cabinet level extra governmental advisory committee. He specializes in geopolitics, geo-economics, energy security, Middle East and US-China relations. Newsweek Magazine called him a "tireless and independent advocate of energy security" and Esquire Magazine included him in its list of America's Best and Brightest. Dr. Luft has published numerous studies and articles in various newspapers and publications...

Staff:
http://www.iags.org/staff.htm

 

[Emily]

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1kvphkaj

Itamar Eichner, Attila Somfalvi|
...

An Israeli professor was arrested in Cyprus last week under an Interpol Red Notice issued at the request of the United States, which he claims is part of an effort by the Biden administration to silence him for cooperating with an investigation into the U.S. president's son’s business dealings.

Prof. Gal Luft, 56, a former lieutenant colonel in the Israeli army and the executive director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security in Washington, was detained at Larnaca International Airport by the local police as he prepared to board a flight back to Israel. Luft is wanted by the U.S. for charges tied to the illegal export of arms to Libya and China...

 

[Emily]

https://www.nysun.com/article/israeli-jailed-in-cyprus-begs-netanyahu-for-rescue-from-bidens-doj
Israeli Jailed in Cyprus Begs Netanyahu for ‘Rescue’ From Biden’s DOJ
Gal Luft claims his arrest was retaliation for his cooperation with an investigation into alleged corruption related to the president’s son, Hunter Biden.

Anthony Grant
February 27, 2023

A noted professor and energy security expert who was arrested earlier this month on charges of trafficking arms to Communist China and Libya has appealed to Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to “rescue him” from President Biden.

Gal Luft was arrested at Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus, where he was about to board a regular commercial flight back to Israel. As the Sun reported last week, Mr. Luft, co-director of the Washington-based Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, claims that his arrest was retaliation for his cooperation with an investigation into alleged corruption related to the president’s son, Hunter Biden...

 

[Emily]

https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2023...ng-from-cyprus-amid-claims-against-biden-fbi/
Israeli Arms Trafficking Suspect Gal Luft Goes Missing from Cyprus Amid Claims Against Biden & FBI

Retired IDF colonel and co-chair of Washington-based think tank disappears after arrest on weapons trafficking charges with Libya and China, as controversial allegations against President Biden’s son emerge

By Sima Ella
Published
April 19, 202

According to local Cypriot media, the Israeli, Professor Gal Luft, has reportedly gone missing from Cyprus, where he was residing. Luft, a retired IDF colonel who co-chairs the Washington-based Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, was arrested at Larnaca International Airport last February by Cyprus police after Interpol issued a warrant for his arrest on suspicion of weapons trafficking with Libya and China.

In March, a Cypriot court deliberating a US extradition request had instructed him to surrender his passport to authorities and post 400,000 euros as bail before being released from custody. He was also required to register at the Paphos police station weekly but failed for the past month and did not appear for three trial dates. Luft’s car was found abandoned on the island a day after his disappearance was reported...
...
...Luft’s American attorney, Robert Henoch, has expressed concern for his client’s safety.
...
Luft’s lawyer, Mordechai Tzivin, who deals with unusual international affairs, said that Luft would never do anything against the law. The news of his disappearance is puzzling, to say the least. It is possible that certain American people or institutions are afraid of the information in the hands of my client. They will try, in any legal way – to prevent him from testifying about everything he knows.”...