The publication was allowed that in a joint investigation by the General Security Service and Yahaval Lahav 433 in the Israel Police, a suspicion has been investigated in recent weeks that a number of Israeli citizens were recruited by Iranian intelligence agencies to carry out missions within the State of Israel.
As part of the ongoing follow-up of the suspects' activities and investigations, it emerged that they maintained ongoing contacts with an Iranian intelligence source.
During the interrogations, a lot of evidence was gathered about these connections, and accordingly indictments were filed against some of the suspects.
The reference to Israeli citizenship was made on the "Facebook" network, by someone who pretended to be a Jew living in Iran, named "Rambud Namdar".
At Rambud's request, the connection between him and the suspects was continued via the WhatsApp app.
This, while he refrained, in videotaped chat conversations he had with them, from exposing his face, claiming that the camera in his possession was broken.
It should be emphasized that despite the interrogees' suspicion that he was an Iranian intelligence official, some of them continued their contact with him, agreed to perform tasks assigned to him, and received money from him.
It should be noted that the names of those involved are prohibited from publication by virtue of the court's decision and in accordance with the restraining order issued at the request of the defense attorneys of the suspects.
The main people involved:
A first suspect and one of her
interrogated husbands, a 40-year-old Holon resident who suspected that "Rambud" was acting on behalf of the Iranian authorities and its intelligence agencies, had been in contact with him for several years.
As part of this, the suspect performed various tasks for the Iranian operator, including:
1. Secret photography of the US Embassy in Tel Aviv.
2. Photography inside the Ministry of the Interior in her hometown, and photography of the Ministry of Social Security.
3. Transfer of information about security arrangements and photography of a mall in Holon.
The investigation revealed that the suspect's husband was aware of her connections with Rambud, and even spoke to Rambud himself, although he suspected that he was an Iranian intelligence source.
The suspect even assisted his wife in carrying out one of her missions for "Rambud" by helping to photograph the US embassy in Tel Aviv.
As part of the connection with "Rambud", the suspect was asked to direct her son, who was about to be drafted into the IDF, to serve in the IDF Intelligence Division and in the meantime, and through her, "Rambud" spoke by phone with his son to give his opinion on his Persian language. And without the latter being aware of the context of things).
It was further revealed that the suspect was instructed by "Rambud" to gather intelligence about senior members of the defense establishment.
Another second
detainee, who also came up as part of the investigation, is a 57-year-old resident of Beit Shemesh, who was in contact with Rambud for more than four years, during which she performed various tasks at his request and received, on several occasions, a total of $ 5,000.
Actions performed by the suspect in the context of the operating ties, and at the request of "Rambud":
Attempt to direct her son to service in the Intelligence Corps, transfer military documentation (enlistment and disk) of her son to the operator, as well as photos and videos from a military ceremony of her son's enlistment.
2. Establishment of a club for Iranians in Beit Shemesh, as part of the "Mirage Fund" activity, and transfer of details of the Israelis active in the branch, photos and videos from the club's meetings and photos participating in the activity.
3. Photographs of the ballot box, during the elections to the 23rd Knesset.
4. An attempt to photograph the American embassy in Jerusalem, which was unsuccessful due to a delay by local security guards.
5. Purchasing electronic means and installing a hidden camera in a massage room in her home.
6. Intended to approach a Knesset member, she took active steps to strengthen the relationship with the Knesset member and passed on information about the relationship between them.
7. She was asked to perform additional tasks, such as buying a computer and cell phone and opening a business.
A third suspect,
a 47-year-old resident of Kfar Saba, came up in the investigation as the one who transferred money from Rambud on two different occasions.
The funds were received through a relative who came from Iran to visit Israel, as well as as part of a meeting with an emissary on behalf of Rambud in Turkey.
A fourth
50-year-old suspect, a resident of Jerusalem, was in contact with Rambud for about a year and a half until her arrest.
As part of the connection, he transferred Australian $ 1,240 to her, received various details from her, and asked to participate with her in business ventures and charitable projects in Israel, which he would finance.
Over the past month, the Jerusalem District Attorney's Office has filed serious indictments against those involved in the Jerusalem District Court.
Senior GSS official:
This is a serious affair, in which an intention to establish a spy network for Iran, which operated within the State of Israel, was exposed and thwarted
. The detainees believe that this is an Iranian intelligence source, and in view of their choice to continue the relationship with him and even carry out missions for him
. To be used for terrorist purposes.
Iranian intelligence sources make extensive use of the Internet, and recently there has been an increase in the number of such referrals to Israeli citizens.
This is for the purpose of gathering information that may assist Iran in the fight against Israel, passing instructions on the execution of missions and even "attracting" Israelis abroad in order to harm them.
The General Security Service will continue to thwart Iranian intelligence activities, including while monitoring its activities in the network space.
We call on the citizens of the State of Israel to be vigilant in any face or exceptional request, which they have received in cyberspace, easily and materially from elements who identify as Iranians.
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