Update from northern Israel – Seven Israeli citizens prosecuted for spying on behalf of Iran
Early this week, shockwaves were felt throughout Israel when the Israel Security Service announced immediate prosecution against seven Jewish Israeli citizens, immigrants from Azerbaijan for operating as Iranian agents. For over two years, they are suspected of passing on highly classified photos of IDF military bases and facilities, including air force bases in the south and north, the Intelligence Center in Tel Aviv, and Iron Dome battery sites to the Iranian enemy state.
The state attorney’s office issued a statement that this is the most serious case of espionage and treachery. According to the accused, they did what they did for a payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars using cryptocurrency.
The prosecutor’s office is due to file an indictment against the seven suspects and have requested they are detained until the end of the proceedings. Because their actions have lead to the death of innocent civilians and have endangered the entire state, for the first time in many years, commentators and politicians alike are calling for the death penalty. Although Israel has always avoided using the death penalty for murder, in the Israel Basic Laws, the punishment for espionage is nothing less.
It was furthered announced that there are fears that the Iranian enemy has infiltrated others in Israel, and accordingly the police are investigating a cell of Arabs in Jerusalem.
Despite the continued rocket barrages from Lebanon, and heavy bombardment of Hizbollah facilities by the Israeli Air Force, this is the story that is grabbing the headlines.