In a shocking development, Israeli security forces have arrested an Israeli citizen on suspicion of collaborating with Iranian intelligence to plan assassinations of high-ranking Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The suspect is a businessman with ties to Turkey, and he was arrested in August 2024.
This is how it played out, according to the Times of Israel.
In April 2024, two Turks, Andrey Farouk Aslan and Junayd Aslan, arranged for him to meet with a rich businessman living in Iran named Eddy, to advance business activity. He then traveled to Samandag, close to Syria, and met with two representatives sent by the Iranian businessman. In Samandag, the Israeli suspect and the Iranian held a phone call.
In May 2024, he went to Turkey to meet with Andrey, Junayd, and Eddy’s two representatives. After the Iranian businessman was reportedly unable to leave Iran, the Israeli man was smuggled into Iran via a land crossing near the eastern Turkish city of Van.
Inside Iran, the Israeli man met with Eddy and another person called Khwaja, who presented himself as a member of Iran’s security forces. The Israeli suspect also presented himself as an Israeli citizen during a meeting at Eddy’s house in Iran.
During that meeting, Eddy suggested to the Israeli suspect that they carry out various missions in Israel for the Iranian regime, including sending money or a handgun to specified locations, taking photos of crowded public areas, and threatening Israeli civilians who are also operating on behalf of Iran and did not carry out their missions. The Israeli said he would look into it, and in August 2024, he was smuggled into Iran via a land crossing, hidden inside a truck. He met with Iranian intelligence officials, who asked him to assassinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar.
They also instructed him to gather intelligence on former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, to transfer money and weapons within Israel and to photograph crowded locations in Israel
He reportedly demanded a $1 million advance payment but received only 5,000 Euros.
The arrest comes amid heightened tensions, with Israel "fighting a war on several fronts," according to a senior Shin Bet official.
Israeli security services, including the Shin Bet and Israel Police, continue to monitor and counter Iranian recruitment efforts within Israel. The investigation is ongoing, and an indictment has been filed against the suspect.
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