Arrest of Another Israeli Citizen on Charges of 'Contact' with Iranian Security Agents

Israel has identified and arrested another of its citizens on suspicion of 'contact' with Iranian intelligence agents and carrying out certain missions requested by the Tehran government within the country. This arrest occurred a day after the Israeli prosecution requested a 12-year prison sentence for a 72-year-old man who was recently convicted of having connections with Iranian intelligence agents and traveling to Iran. The Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service, and the police announced on Thursday, March 9, that 26-year-old Daniel Kitoo, a resident of Petah Tikva in central Israel, was arrested due to 'months' of contact with an Iranian intelligence agent. The joint statement from Shin Bet and the police indicated that the Iranian agent had asked Mr. Kitoo to take 'photos and videos' from the home of Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet, and he also 'suggested' taking photos from the home of Benny Gantz, an opposition leader. The statement added that Daniel Kitoo had drawn 'graffiti desired by the Iranian intelligence agent' against Israel on walls in his city and in the city of Rosh HaAyin, and received 'cryptocurrency' in return. According to the statement, the Iranian agent had asked the suspect whether he was acquainted with Israeli Air Force pilots. The statement indicated that the suspect did not send any photos or videos from the homes of Ronen Bar or Benny Gantz, but 'knew' he was in contact with the Iranian intelligence agency. A picture of written conversations between the suspect and the Iranian intelligence agent in Hebrew, dated before February 6, has been published in Israeli media. The Iranian intelligence agent wrote to the suspect in this chat: 'Every time you send me a video, delete it from your mobile phone.' Shin Bet and the Israeli police only present suspects to court after the completion of investigations, which can take weeks or months. However, it seems that the time between Mr. Kitoo's arrest and his presentation to court was less than three weeks. According to the Jerusalem Post, the prosecution in the city of Lod in central Israel will present the indictment against Daniel Kitoo to the court on Thursday, March 9. The indictment is based on a joint investigation by Shin Bet and the police. The number of Israeli residents arrested in recent months on suspicion of contact with Iranian intelligence agents and against whom indictments have been filed has exceeded 35. The Israeli police stated that the actions of some Israeli immigrants from Azerbaijan in carrying out hundreds of missions for Iran within Israel were the 'most serious' case discovered. Members of the mentioned 'gang' of seven were arrested months ago in northern Israel, and an indictment with 'serious' charges was filed against them. On Wednesday, March 8, the Israeli prosecution requested a 12-year prison sentence for Moti (Mordechai) Maman in the city of Beersheba in southern Israel. Mr. Maman, a 72-year-old businessman from Ashkelon and resident of Turkey, was convicted two months ago in court based on his confessions of committing crimes of 'contact with a foreign agent and unauthorized entry into an enemy country (Iran)' and accepted his guilt in these charges but emphasized that he did nothing to harm 'Israel's security.' Mr. Maman was taken to Iran twice this summer by businessmen in Turkey, hiding in a truck, 'to meet with Iranian intelligence agents and was asked to propose a plan to kill current and former prime ministers or other Israeli leaders.' Mr. Maman stated that this was impossible. One of Mr. Maman's children claimed in court that his father was sent on a 'mission' by Mossad and Shin Bet, but these senior officials 'refused to come to court and testify.' Eyal Baser-Glick, Mr. Maman's lawyer, stated in court on Wednesday that the prosecution's request for a 12-year prison sentence for his client is 'ridiculous' and that the punishment should be a maximum of only a few months in prison. Simultaneously, Israeli media reported on March 8 that Benjamin Weiss, a 24-year-old suspect accused of contact with Iranian intelligence agents, complained to the court about his conditions in the 'Rimonim' prison and requested improvements. Mr. Weiss wrote that he is being held in solitary confinement under 'extreme' conditions, is only taken out of his cell for half an hour a day, has no mattress, feels hungry all the time, is given poor-quality food, and is subjected to harassment and violence from the commander of this prison section and other guards. Mr. Weiss's lawyer stated in the complaint that these conditions 'contradict the fundamental rights' of suspects. The judge overseeing the complaint stated that he would visit this prison and inspect the cell where the complainant is held. Benjamin Weiss, from the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in the highly religious city of Bnei Brak in central Israel, was arrested five months ago. He is accused of 'following' an Israeli nuclear scientist at the request of Iranian intelligence agents. Mr. Weiss has not yet been tried, but an indictment has been issued against him. The police and the Israeli prison service have dedicated a special section of prisons for these suspects due to the increasing number of individuals suspected of espionage for Iran, so they do not mix with convicted criminals and other offenders. Recent reports from these sections, released by Israeli media with the prison service's consent, showed that nearly all of them are in solitary confinement. Some Israeli politicians have called for the death penalty for these suspects, stating that their espionage for Iran occurred at a time when Israel was at the height of war with Iran and six other fronts, all supported by Iran. The death penalty does not exist in Israel.