Politics Recruited by Iran for murders? - Israeli arrested

An Israeli citizen has been arrested and charged in Israel for allegedly being recruited by Iran to assassinate high-ranking government officials.

The aim was allegedly to kill Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Joav Galant or the head of the domestic intelligence service Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, according to the Israeli police and Shin Bet. According to the information, the suspect is a Jewish Israeli.

The businessman had lived in Turkey for a long time and also had contacts with Iranians there. In recent months, he had been smuggled to Iran twice via Turkey for meetings with representatives of the Iranian secret service and had also been paid for the murder plans, it was said. The Israeli was arrested last month. Charges have now also been brought against him.

The murder plans had been planned as revenge for the killing of Hamas foreign leader Ismail Haniya in the Iranian capital Tehran, which is attributed to Israel. During the joint meetings, the Iranian officials are also said to have suggested to the Israeli that he locate Russians or Americans who were prepared to assassinate critics of the Iranian government in Europe or the USA.

The Shin Bet had already announced on Tuesday that it had foiled a bomb attack by the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, which is allied with Iran, on a former high-ranking Israeli security representative. The attack had been planned for the coming days. The target of the attack was not disclosed.

Meanwhile, Iran and Hezbollah see Israel as the mastermind behind the explosions of electronic communication devices in Lebanon. In the past few days, more than 30 people have been killed and more than 3,000 others injured, including numerous members of Hezbollah. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack.

SDA