In a stunning development, Israel arrested seven of its citizens on September 19, 2023, on charges of spying for Iran. This espionage case is one of the most serious in recent Israeli history. The suspects were arrested following a covert investigation by Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, and the elite Police Unit 433.
The seven men, all from the Haifa region, allegedly carried out over 600 missions on behalf of Iran during the past two years. They are accused of gathering critical intelligence on military bases, air defense systems, and other sensitive infrastructure. The arrests reveal the depth of Iranian efforts to penetrate Israel’s defense systems and have raised alarms about the risks posed by such espionage activities.
Among the locations targeted were highly sensitive military bases, such as Ramat David and Nevatim air bases, Mossad’s headquarters, and even the Golani Brigade base in the north, which had recently suffered a Hezbollah drone attack. This makes the espionage effort even more concerning. The arrests highlight the significance of this spy network, as it focused on some of Israel’s most important defense sites.
What the Suspects Are Accused of Doing
The arrests were made after the seven suspects were found to have been involved in a large-scale espionage operation. These individuals allegedly spied on a wide range of strategic military sites across Israel. According to the prosecution, the suspects were tasked with photographing and documenting several important locations, including military bases and energy infrastructure such as the Hadera power plant, which plays a crucial role in Israel’s power supply.
The Iron Dome missile defense system, which protects Israel from incoming rockets, was also a key target for their spying missions. The suspects reportedly took photographs and gathered intelligence on Iron Dome batteries, military installations, and defense operations. According to the police, the spies sent these images back to Iran through secure channels.
In return for their spying activities, the suspects were paid in cash and Bitcoin by their Iranian handlers. The investigation revealed that the spies received hundreds of thousands of shekels from two Iranian agents, code-named “Alhan” and “Orhan.” These agents provided instructions to the suspects, and the funds were delivered by three Russian nationals inside Israel.
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The suspects were well-prepared, using advanced surveillance equipment to carry out their missions. They were often completing up to four missions in a single day. The arrests came just in time, as the group was reportedly trying to recruit more Israelis to join the espionage network.
Connections to Iranian Intelligence and Further Arrests
The arrests revealed that the seven Israeli nationals had been in contact with Iranian intelligence through intermediaries, including a Turkish national named Alhassan. Alhassan has also been implicated in another espionage case involving Moti Maman, an Israeli living in Turkey who allegedly traveled to Iran and agreed to spy for Tehran. Maman was arrested on the same day as the seven suspects.
Maman is accused of gathering information that could assist in the assassination of Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant. The arrests of the seven men in Haifa and Maman were made as part of the same investigation, which uncovered a much larger network of espionage activities across Israel.
In addition to these arrests, two more individuals were taken into custody on October 14. A 30-year-old man and his 18-year-old girlfriend were also allegedly in contact with Iranian agents. Unlike the previous suspects, they were involved in sabotage missions rather than intelligence gathering. They were paid about $5,000 per mission to carry out tasks like hanging posters, burning vehicles, and even starting forest fires.
Following the arrests, Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel instructed his office to look into revoking the citizenship of the seven suspects involved in this espionage case. This measure reflects the seriousness of their alleged cooperation with a foreign enemy.
In a related development, the United States is investigating the unauthorized release of classified documents containing details about Israel’s military preparations ahead of a possible strike on Iran. These sensitive documents were leaked on a pro-Iranian Telegram account. The arrests in Israel and this security breach have drawn widespread attention, both in Israel and abroad.
