Israel considers stripping citizenship from Israelis recruited as Iranian spies

Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly pushing for tougher punishments against Iranian spies, including loss of citizenship.

By World Israel News Staff

Israel is eyeing tougher measures against citizens convicted of spying on behalf of Iran, including the loss of citizenship, Israel Hayom reported Wednesday morning.

Since the Hamas invasion of October 2023, Israeli police and the Shin Bet security agency have uncovered dozens of Iranian-linked espionage plots around the country.

While a few instances have involved foreign nationals, most of the suspects have been Israeli citizens.

Thus far, approximately 60 suspects have been indicted for working on behalf of Iran or Iranian proxy groups since October 2023, with additional indictments expected to be filed in the coming weeks.

In one instance, a reservist soldier charged with maintaining missile batteries from the Iron Dome air defense system sold secrets regarding the system to Iranian agents.

In other cases, operatives have plotted to kill senior Israeli officials or former officials, including a failed September 2023 bombing attack on former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon in Tel Aviv.

Now, with Israel engaged in a large-scale military conflict against Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly pushing for harsher punishments to deter potential spies.

According to Israeli officials familiar with the matter, the Shin Bet security agency is drafting a list of possible measures against convicted spies.

One of the punishments being considered is the loss of citizenship for Israelis convicted of aiding Iran in wartime.

Under the proposal drafted by the Shin Bet, which has received the backing of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, citizenship could only be revoked after a spy has been convicted and all stages of the appeals process exhausted.

Practically speaking, however, the move may have limited impact, the officials noted.

Under Israeli law, persons without another citizenship are entitled to permanent residency even after losing their Israeli citizenship, enabling them to remain in the country.

The loss of citizenship would deprive the convicted spies of the right to vote and access to public benefits.