A 37-year-old Israeli from Ashkelon has been arrested on suspicion of maintaining contact with Iranian handlers, the Israel Police and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) said in a joint statement on Thursday.
“The investigation by the [police’s] Jerusalem Central Unit and the Shin Bet revealed that over the course of several months, the suspect had been in contact with Iranian intelligence operatives and was asked by them to carry out various tasks,” the statement read.
The suspect also received pecuniary rewards of several thousand dollars for his cooperation, the statement continued.
He was apprehended in a joint operation by the Central Unit of the Jerusalem District Police and the Shin Bet. An indictment is expected to be filed against him on charges of security offenses.
This case joins a growing list of Israelis arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran, mostly motivated by monetary incentives.
On Tuesday, the Shin Bet issued a rare warning to residents of Bat Yam about ongoing Iranian efforts to recruit Israeli citizens for espionage.
The mayor of the seaside city south of Tel Aviv, Tzvika Brot, relayed the warning to residents on Tuesday. There have been many such cases since the start of the war on Oct. 7, 2023, and the recruiting attempts are ongoing, he said.
On Nov. 20, the State Attorney’s Office indicted an Israeli resident of Beersheva on charges of maintaining contact with Iranian agents in exchange for money.
Police said the suspect, 22-year-old Rafael Reuveni, carried out several missions at the request of his Iranian handlers, such as taking photographs of his hometown, planting a cell phone and a cigarette box, and collecting a SIM card from a hiding spot, Ynet reported.
