Israeli accused of helping Iran plan assassination of Netanyahu and other senior politicians

Israeli citizen Moti Maman stands in a courtroom after being accused by Israeli security services of involvement in an Iran-backed assassination attempt on prominent figures, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the Beersheba District Court in southern Israel, September 19, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Stringer

Israeli Security Services said on Thursday that they had arrested a Israeli Citizens on suspicion of involvement in a Iranian–supports assassination Plot They targeted prominent figures, including the Prime Minister.

In a statement, it was said that the person was a companyMan with ties to Turkey who had attended at least two meetings in Iran where the possibility of assassinating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant or the head of the domestic intelligence service Shin Bet was discussed.

The arrest took place last month, according to a joint statement by the Shin Bet and the Israeli Police.

The suspect was identified in Israeli media reports as Moti Maman, 73, from the southern coastal city of Ashkelon.

The incident sheds light on the intelligence war that is raging parallel to the escalating conflict on Israel's border with southern Lebanon.

Last week, Shin Bet uncaboveIt was said that it was a Plot commissioned by the Iranian-backed Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah with the intent of assassinating a former senior defense official, later identified as former Chief of General Staff and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon.

The announcement of the arrest came a day after Hezbollah was targeted for the second consecutive day by a sophisticated attack that remotely detonated communications equipment.

Explosions in handheld radios killed at least 20 people and injured more than 450. A day earlier, hundreds of Hezbollah pager devices exploded simultaneously, killing 12 people and injuring thousands.

Israel has not commented directly on these attacks, but several Security According to sources, the Israeli secret service Mossad is responsible for this.

Israel has long been active in intelligence operations in Iran. allegedlyincluding the assassination in July by Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, in a government guest house in Tehran.

Shin Bet said the latest arrest showed Iran’s efforts Israelis to collect intelligence and carry out terrorist missions in Israel, including through the use of persons with criminal backgrounds.

According to the Shin Bet statement Plot went back to April this year, when the Israeli agreed to meet a wealthy businessmanMan live in Iran for business reasons.

After company representatives stated that theManidentified by the security services only as Adi, could not leave Iran, the Israeli Man was smuggled from eastern Turkey to Iran, where he met Adi and others, including a Man identified as Iranian Security officially, the statement said.

The IranianHe was asked to carry out tasks for Iran, including transferring money or a weapon, taking photographs of crowded places or threatening other Israeli Civilians who acted on behalf of Iran and did not carry out the requested missions.

He returned to Israel but traveled to Iran a second time in August in a smuggled truck, the statement said.

On the second visit it was said Iranian Officials urged him to carry out terrorist attacks on Iran's behalf and made suggestions for the assassination of Netanyahu, Gallant or Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, as well as other operations.

The Israeli Man demanded a payment of $1 million, but Iranian Officials refused the request but said they would stay in touch and paid him 5,000 euros ($5,570.50) to attend the meetings.