Israel Arrests Two Air Force Personnel on Alleged Iranian Espionage Links

Two Israeli Air Force personnel were arrested on allegations of espionage, the latest in a surge of cases tied to Iranian recruitment efforts inside Israel. Over the past year and a half, Israeli police and Shin Bet have investigated more than 20 cases involving an estimated 40 to 50 suspects. Most of the 40 to 50 suspects remain in custody.

Capt. Sefi Berger of the Israel Police’s Lahav International and Major Crimes Unit, which investigates Iranian espionage cases, said Tehran primarily seeks intelligence that could aid attack planning, along with information on high-profile individuals and other sensitive targets. Payments to recruits vary widely.

One network of seven suspects reportedly received about $300,000. An Iron Dome reservist was allegedly paid $1,000, and in some cases payments are even less than $1,000. "People may think they will get rich, but the money is not life-changing," Berger said.

Iranian recruitment tactics include infiltrating WhatsApp and Facebook groups used by Israelis seeking freelance work. Iranian agents allegedly use compromising material on pornography websites to blackmail individuals into cooperating. Recruitment also relies on emotional manipulation of individuals whose moral judgment may be compromised.

"When recruiting a person, a relationship can develop between the handler and the spy. Sometimes the asset is looking for a father figure or a friend — someone who listens without judgment," Berger said. Former Shin Bet handler Gonen Ben Itzhak, who spent years recruiting sources within Palestinian society, said he has not previously seen so many attempts — and some successful cases — of spying against Israel.

"The Iranians use social media — something we didn’t have in the same way — and it’s a powerful tool to identify potential motives," Gonen Ben Itzhak said. He described an often gradual process. "At first, they need to agree to meet in secret.

Sometimes they come but won’t share information. " "Some refuse to cooperate, some may even act as double agents. In many cases, they are trained to collect information without being exposed," he added.

In March, 22-year-old Haifa resident Ami Gaydarov was arrested on suspicion of manufacturing explosives intended to target a senior Israeli figure at the direction of an Iranian agent. Miqdad Moder Hosni Natur made contact with his handler after being introduced while searching for job opportunities through the Qatari-owned news organization.

Under Israeli law, contact with a foreign agent carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

Providing intelligence can result in more than 10 years’ imprisonment. Aiding the enemy during wartime carries a minimum sentence of life imprisonment and, in extreme cases, the death penalty. Berger recounted one case in which a hotel worker near the Dead Sea falsely told Iranians that a group of Israelis would arrive.

He explained that even a false tip effectively put a target on the hotel, its staff and guests. Seventy-year-old Moti Maman was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison after twice entering Iran, where he met with intelligence agents to discuss carrying out terrorist activity in Israel.

Moti Maman discussed the possibility of assassinating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Former Mossad operative Gad Shimron said the espionage efforts have caused damage but their impact appears tactical rather than strategic. "The electronic Iron Dome is trying to catch Israelis willing to work for the Iranians, and I believe it is quite efficient," he said.

Fox News reported these details from interviews with Berger, Gonen Ben Itzhak and Gad Shimron along with details of the police and Shin Bet investigations.