Seven East Jerusalem Palestinians have been arrested for allegedly spying for Iran and planning attacks in Israel, including the assassination of an Israeli nuclear scientist, the Israeli Police and Shin Bet revealed Tuesday. This marks the fifth Iranian espionage case uncovered since September and the second within two days.
The group, aged 19 to 23, hails from Beit Safafa, with no prior criminal or security-related records. Led by Rami Alian, 23, the men were allegedly recruited to execute a series of attacks for Iranian handlers, including the assassination of a scientist and the mayor of a major Israeli city.
Authorities stated that the cell, composed of six Israeli citizens and one permanent resident, had each assigned roles. Their missions included posting graffiti, vandalizing sites, and conducting surveillance on targets. These efforts escalated to sabotage, including arson and weapons acquisition. One notable task was preparing to assassinate a nuclear scientist, for which Alian was promised NIS 200,000 ($53,000).
While Alian gathered information about the scientist, the group was arrested before carrying out the plot. Alian expressed pride in working for Iranian operatives, citing nationalist motives linked to the Gaza conflict. The group’s arrests follow a broader pattern of Iranian attempts to recruit Israelis for intelligence and sabotage operations, with several espionage cases unveiled in recent months.