By Smartencyclopedia with Agencies
Jerusalem – Israeli security forces have arrested seven individuals in occupied East Jerusalem, accusing them of conspiring to carry out attacks under Iranian direction. The alleged plot involved targeting a senior Israeli scientist and a city mayor, according to a joint statement released by the Shin Bet domestic security agency and Israeli police.
The arrests mark the second such operation in as many days, further highlighting escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, long-standing regional foes. Authorities claim that the suspects had been recruited by Iranian operatives and were preparing to execute several high-profile attacks. These included assassinating prominent Israeli figures and carrying out bombings in exchange for a payment of 200,000 shekels (approximately £40,700 or $53,000).
Planned Attacks and Recruitment
The Shin Bet and police have stated that the group’s leader, a 23-year-old man, had been actively working with Iranian intelligence to recruit the six other suspects. Their alleged mission was to assassinate a leading Israeli scientist and a city mayor, bomb a police car, and throw a grenade at a house. According to the authorities, these plots were part of broader Iranian efforts to destabilize Israel by recruiting local operatives to execute terror attacks.
The Israeli security statement emphasized the serious threat posed by the alleged plot. “Scientists, mayors, security officials, and other prominent Israelis are targets for Iranian agents,” the statement read. It also underscored the increasing frequency of Iranian attempts to recruit Israeli citizens for terrorist activities.
The group’s leader reportedly confessed to engaging in “terrorist activity” for nationalistic reasons, Israeli media said.
Spy Network Uncovered
The arrests in East Jerusalem came just a day after Israeli security services disclosed the detention of seven Israeli Jewish citizens on suspicion of spying for Iran. These individuals, who had immigrated to Israel from Azerbaijan, were apprehended in the Haifa area. They are suspected of participating in around 600 espionage missions on behalf of Iran, which allegedly included gathering intelligence on military installations and critical energy infrastructure.
This case has been described by Israeli authorities as one of the most severe breaches of national security in recent years. The Shin Bet noted that the intelligence provided by the suspects could have directly aided enemy missile strikes against Israel.
“This investigation highlights Iran’s ongoing attempts to undermine Israel’s security by recruiting Israeli citizens for espionage and terrorism,” the security services said. The seven arrested Israeli citizens were reportedly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for the sensitive information they supplied to Iranian handlers.
Iran-Israel Tensions Escalate
These arrests come amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iran. Just last week, four Israeli soldiers were killed in a drone attack attributed to Hezbollah, Iran’s ally, on an Israeli army base near Binyamina in northern Israel. The base was reportedly one of the sites on which the group of seven spies had collected intelligence.
Israel’s Shin Bet and military intelligence have warned that the country is facing an unprecedented threat from Iranian-backed networks. Iran’s involvement in regional conflicts, including its support for Hezbollah and other militant groups, has made it a primary concern for Israeli defense strategists.
Israel has a history of countering Iranian influence through covert operations, including targeted assassinations and sabotage missions within Iran’s borders. Iranian media frequently reports the arrest of alleged Israeli intelligence agents, although these claims are often made without substantial evidence. For its part, Israel is believed to have deeply infiltrated Iran’s security services, contributing to a shadow war that has seen numerous high-profile attacks and assassinations over the years.
Regional Impact
The uncovering of these espionage and terrorism networks serves as a reminder of the intensifying covert conflict between Israel and Iran. Both nations have ramped up their intelligence and sabotage operations, targeting each other’s infrastructure, personnel, and security apparatus.
The latest incidents come on the heels of Israel’s pledge to retaliate against Iran following a missile attack on October 1, which further exacerbated tensions. Israeli officials have accused Iran of using regional proxies, such as Hezbollah, to wage a proxy war against Israel, while also attempting to directly destabilize the country through espionage and recruitment efforts.
As Israeli security forces continue their investigations, the arrests in East Jerusalem and Haifa underscore the growing complexity of the Iran-Israel conflict, which extends far beyond conventional military confrontations into the murky realm of intelligence, espionage, and covert operations.