Israeli security forces have arrested a man from eastern Jerusalem on suspicion of collaborating with Iranian intelligence to carry out espionage and potential terrorist attacks within Israel, according to an Israel Police statement on Tuesday.
The suspect, a resident of the Issawiya neighborhood in his 30s, was detained in a joint operation by the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Jerusalem District Police.
According to authorities, Iranian operatives recruited the man, directing him to perform various tasks, including collecting information on sensitive sites such as the Western Wall and the Mahane Yehuda market, as well as hanging banners, and burning IDF uniforms.
He allegedly received thousands of shekels for these activities.
Investigators also claim the suspect was instructed to plan more serious actions, including a terrorist attack targeting Jews in central Israel, setting fire to a forest, and transferring weapons to Judea and Samaria.
His arrest reportedly thwarted these plans.
The man allegedly attempted to recruit family members, including his mother, to assist in these missions, offering them financial incentives.
During a search of his home, police found cash allegedly received from Iranian handlers, spray paint used in his activities, two airsoft pistols, and a substance suspected to be drugs.
This case is part of a broader pattern of Iranian efforts to recruit Israeli citizens for espionage and sabotage.
In recent months, several individuals have been arrested on similar charges, including a 23-year-old Jerusalem resident accused of planning attacks under Iranian direction, and a group of seven Israelis from Haifa indicted for conducting surveillance on military bases and infrastructure for Tehran.
In another case, 73-year-old Moti Maman was twice smuggled into Iranian territory, where he discussed political assassinations with Iranian agents and the smuggling of weapons into Israel. He received a 10-year jail sentence for his activities.
Israeli security officials warn that Iran continues to exploit social media and other channels to recruit operatives within Israel, often offering financial rewards for information and actions that could harm national security.