Trial of an Israeli Who Received 'Thousands of Dollars' from the Iranian Government

The Central District Court of Israel has put on trial a resident of Petah Tikva, accused of missions benefiting the Iranian government, which prosecutors claim has harmed the country's 'national security.' According to the Times of Israel, and prosecutors, just days after the arrest of 29-year-old Alexander Granovsky by Israel's internal security service (Shin Bet) and police, he was charged with establishing contact with a foreign agent, transferring information to an enemy, and other crimes including sabotage and arson. Prosecutors have requested the court to extend his detention until the end of judicial proceedings. According to the indictment, Granovsky has been in continuous contact with an agent of the Islamic Republic since November, received thousands of dollars, and carried out a 'series of serious actions,' including filming security facilities, graffitiing political messages, setting vehicles on fire, and other actions. The indictment states that in December, Granovsky was asked to purchase weapons and film from the neighborhood where former Defense Minister Benny Gantz lives, as well as from the Hadara and Tel Aviv power plants, and sent these images to the Iranian government agent. Among the activities attributed to Granovsky are setting fire to eight vehicles, graffitiing 'Children of Ruhollah' Khomeini on a car, sending information about an Israeli citizen to his handlers to recruit him for activities, and purchasing military uniforms to burn them. He was also reportedly asked to find individuals with criminal backgrounds to carry out 'violent actions.' He sent contact details for two of these individuals. The indictment states that he also agreed to make Molotov cocktails but failed due to language barriers. The indictment clarifies that Granovsky was aware he was collaborating with an enemy element and even proposed more tasks, asking the agent for larger and more missions. In recent months, a series of plots involving civilians apparently recruited by the Islamic Republic of Iran have been identified and neutralized by Israeli security agencies. According to the Times of Israel, this is at least the thirteenth espionage plot by the Iranian government against Israel that has been thwarted in recent months.