A 22-year-old student from the Arab village of Deir al-Asad in northern Israel has been arrested on suspicion of espionage for Iran. The young man, who studies information systems at Ben Gurion University in Beersheba, is accused of committing security offenses and carrying out tasks for Iranian agents, according to a joint statement by Israel’s Shin Bet security service and police.
Arrested in June, the suspect will face formal charges. It is unclear whether his arrest preceded or coincided with the recent 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran.
Authorities revealed the student had been in contact with an Iranian agent for several months. In return for payment, he allegedly conducted “security-related acts,” including an attempt to injure an individual, spreading nails on a main road in Beersheba, and stirring divisive social tensions. The suspect claimed his motives were rooted in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel has seen multiple arrests in recent years related to suspected Iranian espionage.
(dpa/NAN)