Teen arrested over pro-Iran graffiti in Judea

The Israel Police arrested a teenager who was allegedly paid to spray pro-Iranian graffiti across the Gush Etzion region of Judea at the behest of a “foreign entity,” the force announced on Monday.

The suspect, identified only as a 17-and-a-half-year-old male, was contacted by a foreign entity through the Telegram messaging application and assigned “various tasks” in exchange for cryptocurrency, an initial probe showed.

The spray-paint used for the graffiti was found in his possession, and during questioning, he confessed to the crimes, the statement noted, adding that the probe into the pro-Tehran operation was ongoing.

According to authorities, the suspect spray-painted pro-Iran graffiti in Hebrew at a dozen spots in Gush Etzion, reading, “The Children of Ruhollah,” as in Islamic Republic founder Ruhollah Khomeini, and “Occupiers of Khaybar,” a reference to the Jews massacred by the prophet Muhammad in 628 C.E., which the Israel Police noted was “intended to convey a hostile and threatening message toward Israelis.”

The same foreign entity was said to have asked the suspect to commit other “serious offenses,” including setting fire to vehicles and electrical and communication infrastructure in the area.

Since the start of the war with Hamas and other Iranian-backed terrorist proxies on Oct. 7, 2023, several cases of Israelis suspected of spying for Tehran were revealed by the Jewish state’s security establishment.

Last month, security forces arrested two Israel Defense Forces reservists for allegedly conducting espionage for the Islamic Republic.

Yuri Eliaspov, who served in an Iron Dome air defense unit during his military service, allegedly passed classified materials on the system to Tehran. Georgi Andreyev was stationed at IDF headquarters at the Kirya in Tel Aviv, which also houses the Defense Ministry, according to the charges.

During questioning, the two suspects claimed their motive was financial hardship. However, the financial compensation allegedly provided by the Islamic Republic was modest, some $3,500 in Eliaspov’s case.