Israel Accuses Three Citizens of Espionage for the Islamic Republic of Iran

On Thursday, November 1, the Israeli internal security agency and police announced in a joint statement that they had arrested and interrogated a couple residing in Israel on charges of espionage for the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to Shabak and the international unit of the Israeli police, Rafael and Laleh Quliyev, both 32 years old and recent immigrants from the Caucasus region (Azerbaijan), are accused of being recruited by Alashin Aghayev, a 56-year-old man from Azerbaijan, to gather information from Israel. The indictment against the couple for 'aiding and providing information to the enemy with the aim of harming national security' has been submitted to a court in the center of the country. According to this indictment, the defendants allegedly took photos and videos from the Mossad headquarters, Haifa port, and the cemetery of Israeli citizens who died in the October 7 attack by the extremist group Hamas, and typically sent them via Telegram channels or similar means to those they were in contact with. Israeli security agencies stated that the couple received '600 dollars' daily for their mission and had received a total of '26,000 dollars' before their arrest. The couple, who settled in the city of Lod after immigrating to Israel, are also accused of being tasked with gathering information about other Israeli infrastructures, security facilities, and a female researcher at the INSS think tank in the center of the country. The indictment states that the purpose of gathering information against this female researcher was to attempt to assassinate her. Additionally, Israeli media reported on the same day that the Israeli prosecution submitted an indictment against a resident of Bnei Brak named Benjamin Weiss, including charges of stalking an Israeli nuclear scientist at the request of Iranian intelligence officers. Mr. Weiss is accused of sending a photo of the Israeli scientist's home and vehicle to an 'Iranian agent,' who then forwarded the images to Rami Alyan, the head of a seven-member Palestinian gang accused of espionage for Iran in East Jerusalem, asking him to procure weapons to kill this scientist. In most cases where individuals have been arrested for espionage for Iran in recent weeks, it has been emphasized that one of the key missions assigned to them was to monitor and attempt to kill an Israeli nuclear scientist, whose name has not been disclosed. Benjamin Weiss is also accused of setting a car on fire in the streets of Israel at the request of an 'Iranian agent,' installing 'rebellion against the Israeli government' banners, spray-painting graffiti on walls, and sending photos of completed missions to the agent, receiving 'thousands of dollars' in cryptocurrency. In the past two weeks, Shabak and the Israeli police have introduced two seven-member gangs of 'Iranian spies' to the court, one group consisting of young Palestinian men residing in East Jerusalem and another group of recent immigrants from Azerbaijan and residents of northern Israel. Last month, based on investigations by Israeli security agencies, indictments were submitted to Israeli courts against two young men and a newly arrived female immigrant from Russia, as well as a 72-year-old Israeli-Turkish businessman named Moti (Mordechai) Maman on security charges and 'collaboration' with Iranian intelligence agencies. Mr. Maman is accused of secretly visiting Iran twice to meet with Iranian intelligence forces and, upon hearing their request to kill current and former prime ministers, stated that such an act would never happen as Israeli officials are under heavy security protection. Mr. Maman was asked to find a Mossad agent willing to become a double agent and work for Iran as well. In recent days, Shabak has warned the people of this country and other residents against any cooperation with Iran. According to Israeli media, for the first time, the possibility of requesting the death penalty for the seven-member gang of Azerbaijani immigrants has been raised.