Trial of an Israeli Citizen Accused of 'Collaboration' with Iranian Security Agencies

The Israeli prosecutor has put a citizen of the country on trial for allegedly collaborating with the intelligence agencies of the Islamic Republic of Iran and receiving $12,000 in cryptocurrency. At the same time, it was announced that the police and the internal security agency of Israel are investigating the possible involvement of Iran and Hezbollah behind the bombing by 'a Palestinian suicide bomber' in Tel Aviv. Israeli media reported that the prosecutor's office presented an indictment against Eden Debs, a 30-year-old resident of Ramat Gan, on Monday, August 29, titled 'treasonous actions and contact with an Iranian intelligence agent.' Mr. Debs is accused of being in contact with Iranian intelligence agents through Telegram channels and fulfilling their requests to install posters across the country aimed at encouraging a 'military coup.' The indictment states that despite being aware of collaborating with agents of the 'enemy' government, he continued to communicate with them and completed other assigned missions. According to the indictment, Mr. Debs also encouraged others to engage in such collaborations by creating a Telegram channel and promoting the 'People's Army' Telegram channel. The Shin Bet security agency warned about Iran's attempts to recruit Israelis on social media. During interrogation, he 'confessed' to receiving $12,000 in cryptocurrency. It is still unclear what his sentence will be if found guilty in court. Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency, issued a warning on August 18 this year, publishing a list of usernames created by the Iranian intelligence apparatus, such as the 'People's Army' group, alerting Israeli citizens that Iranian intelligence agencies are trying to recruit Israelis to harm Israel's security. A trial is also currently underway for a 20-year-old Haredi man accused of having contact with an Iranian intelligence asset who contacted him under the cover name 'Anna' from Britain. The Haredi defendant stated that while carrying out actions requested by 'Anna,' such as setting fire to forests and placing the head of a slaughtered animal next to the homes of some Israelis, he realized he was likely executing a mission from Iran but was 'afraid to go to the police.' One day after the 'failed bombing' by a 50-year-old Palestinian man in Tel Aviv, which only killed himself, Israeli media reported that the internal security agency and police are investigating the possible role of Iran and Hezbollah in this bombing attempt. The bomber, who carried an eight-kilogram explosive device in a backpack and traveled from Nablus in the West Bank to Tel Aviv, apparently intended to detonate the bomb near a synagogue on a busy street rather than at the location he initially intended to reach. Hamas and Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the 'suicide operation' in Tel Aviv. After seeing about a hundred people at the synagogue, the bomber moved away to detonate the bomb, but the explosion killed him. The police stated that 'nothing remained of the terrorist, but quick laboratory investigations showed that he was a resident of the West Bank.' Tel Aviv police chief, Portz Amar, added: 'If the terrorist had entered the synagogue, it could have resulted in a terrible disaster.' A 43-year-old Israeli passerby was injured in this incident, but he is recovering. Tel Aviv has not witnessed a suicide bombing since 2006, with the last one occurring in 2016. The extremist groups Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, both designated as terrorist organizations by the US and the EU, announced in statements their cooperation in the failed bombing operation in Tel Aviv. According to the Times of Israel, the country is uncertain whether the bomber was an operative sent by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, but given the complexity of the explosives, it is possible he received them from Iran or Hezbollah. Channel 12 of Israeli television reported that military censorship is preventing information at this time. The Israeli police have increased security measures in cities.