Israel Arrests Two Accused of Spying on Defense Minister for Iran
Israeli authorities said Tuesday that they had arrested two citizens suspected of carrying out “intelligence-gathering missions” at Iran’s behest near the defense minister’s home.
The arrests are the latest in a spate of cases in which Israel has charged its own citizens with spying for the country’s arch-foe since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023.
Police and the Shin Bet domestic security agency said that “in a joint operation… Roi Mizrachi and his friend, Almog Attias, both 24, were arrested at the end of April for committing security offenses after collecting intelligence in Kfar Ahim”, where Defense Minister Israel Katz lives.
The men were acting “on behalf of Iran” and motivated by “financial gain”, said the statement from the security agencies.
On Sunday, authorities announced the arrest of an 18-year-old Israeli accused of spying on former prime minister Naftali Bennet, also for Iran.
Other cases uncovered recently included alleged missions ranging from photographing military bases to plotting to kill senior Israeli officials.
