Israeli Man to Be Tried for Allegedly Plotting to Assassinate Officials for Iran

On Thursday, September 29, the Israeli prosecution announced that an Israeli man has been brought to trial for allegedly attempting to assist in the assassination plot of current and former Israeli prime ministers. In the indictment presented to the court, Moty (Mordechai) Maman is accused of engaging in efforts to kill Benjamin Netanyahu, Naftali Bennett, and several other key Israeli officials in line with the objectives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in exchange for money from Iranian intelligence agencies. Maman, a 72-year-old businessman from the Israeli port city of Ashkelon, who has been living in Turkey for a long time, is accused of contacting a 'foreign agent.' The indictment states that Maman has traveled to Iran twice. The prosecution has announced that Maman must remain in custody until the legal proceedings are completed, and it is unclear what punishment awaits him. According to Haaretz, Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service, and the international investigations unit of the Israeli police known as 'Lahav 433' arrested Maman last month on suspicion of meeting with Iranian intelligence agents in Iran. During interrogations, it was revealed that last spring he had reached an agreement with an Iranian businessman to enhance his business activities and had traveled to Iran twice for this purpose. One of the individuals who met with Maman alongside his Iranian partner in Iran was a representative of Iran's security agencies. The indictment claims that during his second trip to Iran in July of last year, Maman was confronted with a request to assist in the assassination of Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, the Minister of Defense, or Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet. The report also indicates that the possibility of assassinating Naftali Bennett, the former prime minister, or Israeli mayors was also discussed. Maman's second land trip to Iran apparently took place in July of last year while he was hidden in a 'secret' truck. The indictment alleges that Maman requested an advance payment of one million dollars, but the Iranians said they would contact him later regarding this matter and effectively paid him five thousand euros for his attendance at the meetings. According to Shin Bet, two Turkish citizens named Andrei Farouk Aslan and Cüneyt Aslan facilitated Maman's meeting with the Iranian businessman residing in Iran. According to the Times of Israel, Maman, due to his long-term residence in Turkey, had business and social connections with Turkish and Iranian citizens. Eyal Baserghlik, Maman's lawyer, stated in a media release that the indictment has only recently been presented, and he is not yet familiar with its contents and needs to study the investigations conducted on his client. Baserghlik added that his client 'has helped the Israeli security apparatus a lot, his children serve in security services, but he has made a mistake in his business dealings.' The Israeli internal security service stated that the assassination plot against senior Israeli officials is seen as Iran's attempt for revenge for the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas's political bureau. Israel has not claimed responsibility for Haniyeh's assassination on July 31 in Tehran. On Wednesday, September 28, the Israeli internal security service also announced that Hezbollah had plotted to kill General Moshe Bogie Ya'alon, a former chief of staff of the Israeli army, and had placed a bomb on the route of his daily exercise in 'Hayarkon Park' in Tel Aviv. According to Shabak, this plot was supposed to be executed on the eve of the Hebrew New Year last year, but security forces discovered the bomb. The eve of the Hebrew New Year last year was a few weeks before the attack by the extremist group Hamas on Israeli territory. General Ya'alon, who has also served as Minister of Defense, has long been a staunch opponent of Benjamin Netanyahu and has repeatedly referred to the efforts of Netanyahu's supporters to change the judiciary as a 'coup.' General Ya'alon is also critical of the current government's management of the ongoing war in Gaza. Israeli media revealed that eight individuals have been arrested in connection with the bombing plot last year in Tel Aviv targeting General Ya'alon, and indictments have been filed against them.