Israel Police arrests 3 Israelis for carrying out 'security activities' directed by covert Iranian intelligence

The Israel Police, in collaboration with the Shin Bet, recently arrested three Israelis on suspicion of performing "security activities" under the direction of covert Iranian intelligence agents, the authorities stated on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the central suspect is 21-year-old Elimelech Stern, a resident of Beit Shemesh, who was indicted on Tuesday for the suspected crime of contact with a foreign agent.

Stern was contacted some time ago on the Telegram app by a covert agent nicknamed “Anna Elena,” who paid him to carry out different tasks.

Stern then recruited two other people to join him in tasks like hanging ads in Tel Aviv, burying money in various locations in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and delivering packages containing a severed animal head or a doll with a threatening message.

The suspects were allegedly compensated in cryptocurrency payments. The two other citizens were interrogated and released from custody at the end of their investigation pending a decision on their case.

“In recent months, many fictitious profiles used by the Iranian security forces have been located, and a lot of information has been gathered about the factors behind their operation. A significant number of Israeli citizens who received suspicious inquiries avoided responding to them and even reported them to relevant authorities,” Shin Bet officials stated.

A senior Shin Bet official told Army Radio: “The public is advised to be vigilant regarding inquiries from unknown parties, and to avoid providing personal details and opening links from unidentified sources.”

According to the police investigation, Stern agreed to carry out all tasks except murder and starting a forest fire.

“Anna” promised Stern $1,000 for each point that he started a fire while claiming to have spies within the police to calm his fears.

“If they find out, they will inform me and I will tell you to leave the place. For each point you light you will get $1,000,” Stern was told.

Stern’s family rejects the allegations against him. According to Ynet News, his family is ultra-Orthodox. His mother is supposedly a teacher, and his father is a rabbi. His friends told the newspaper that Stern only has a “kosher phone” without internet and, therefore, couldn’t have downloaded the Telegram app.