Israel arrests 30 citizens over alleged espionage for Iran
Israeli authorities have arrested nearly 30 people, mostly Jewish citizens, on suspicion of spying for Iran. The suspects were reportedly part of nine covert cells responsible for collecting intelligence on military defenses and planning sabotage within Israel. Unfulfilled objectives of these cells included the assassination of an Israeli nuclear scientist and former military officials, with one group reportedly collecting information on military bases and air defenses.
Arrests highlight Iran's recruitment efforts
The arrests are part of a wider effort by Iranian intelligence operatives over the last two years to recruit ordinary Israelis for intelligence gathering and attacks in return for money. A father and son team from the Golan Heights were among those arrested for passing details of Israeli force movements. Shalom Ben Hanan, a former top Shin Bet official, noted the surprising number of Jewish citizens involved in espionage against Israel, stating, "There is a large phenomenon here."
Diverse backgrounds of espionage suspects raise concerns
The suspects were from the ultra-Orthodox community, recent immigrants, an army deserter, and a convicted sex offender. According to Shin Bet, the majority of their activities involved spraying anti-Benjamin Netanyahu or anti-government graffiti on walls and causing car damage. The scale of these arrests has alarmed Israel, especially amid ongoing conflicts with Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza and a fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah. Shin Bet described these espionage activities as "among the most severe the state of Israel has known."
Public disclosure aims to deter potential saboteurs
The decision to disclose details of the alleged plots is to deter potential saboteurs and signal to Iran that such efforts will be thwarted, Ben Hanan said. Iranian intelligence agencies often recruit via social media, offering money for information. Some recruits were initially given innocuous tasks before being asked for sensitive intelligence under threat of blackmail. Iran's UN mission neither confirmed nor denied recruitment efforts but suggested any such attempts would focus on non-Iranian and non-Muslim individuals to avoid suspicion.
Arrests seen as significant move amid regional tensions
Israeli authorities have tied some Jewish suspects to expatriate networks from Caucasus countries living abroad. One such suspect, Vladislav Victorsson, was arrested with his girlfriend in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv. He had previously been jailed for sex offenses involving minors. An acquaintance claimed Victorsson communicated with Iranians via Telegram and lied about his military experience. Israel's recent arrests are viewed as a major move to counter Tehran's infiltration attempts amid ongoing regional tensions.
