Iranian spy nabbed in Jerusalem, planned to carry out terror attack

Israeli authorities say an Arab Jerusalemite in his 30s was arrested recently over his covert operations on behalf of the Iranian government.

By World Israel News Staff

In a joint operation, Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency and the Jerusalem District Police arrested an Arab resident of eastern Jerusalem suspected of working on behalf of Iranian intelligence operatives to carry out missions inside Israel.

The suspect, a man in his 30s from the neighborhood of Issawiya, was apprehended following a covert and complex investigation that took place over several weeks.

According to the findings of the investigation, the suspect had been in contact with a foreign agent affiliated with Iranian intelligence and agreed to perform assignments within Israel.

He also expressed willingness to recruit family members, including his own mother, to assist in carrying out the missions. In exchange for his cooperation, he reportedly received several thousand shekels.

The suspect’s tasks included intelligence gathering on sensitive locations such as the Western Wall and Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda Market, hanging signs, and even burning Israel Defense Forces (IDF) uniforms.

Authorities say he was fully aware that he was working for a hostile entity seeking to harm Israel’s security.

Investigators also uncovered plans for far more serious actions, including an attempted terrorist attack in central Israel intended to target Jewish civilians, arson in forested areas in exchange for payment, and facilitating the transfer of weapons to terrorists in Judea and Samaria.

During a search of the suspect’s home, police found various items linked to his activity, including cash payments he had received, spray paint used in some operations, two Airsoft pistols, and a substance suspected to be a drug.

At the conclusion of the investigation, a prosecutorial statement was filed against the suspect, and his detention has been extended. The Jerusalem District Attorney’s Office is expected to file a formal indictment in the coming days on serious security-related offenses.