Israel released to house arrest on Friday an 80-year-old Israeli scientist jailed for nearly 16 years for spying for the former Soviet Union, the man's lawyer said.
Earlier this month the Beersheba district court said the ailing Marcus Klingberg, former deputy head of the Nes Ziona Biological Institute near Tel Aviv, would serve the remainder of his 20-year sentence at home."I want to wish a happy new year to the people of Israel. When I was in prison I merely existed. Now that I am free, I am alive, I am very excited," Israeli army radio quoted Klingberg as saying as he fought back tears.
His release had been held up until Friday to allow for a state appeal of the ruling. No appeal was made. The Jewish new year begins on Sunday night.
Foreign reports have called Nes Ziona Israel's biological warfare center. Klingberg, an epidemiologist, worked there from 1957 until his arrest.