TEHRAN – Israeli authorities say they have uncovered another spying case that led to the arrest of a 27-year-old man suspected of working for Iranian intelligence.
The indictment filed against Kiryat Yam’s Shimon Azarzar on Sunday details security crimes involving contact with and carrying out tasks under the direction of Iranian agents.
i24news reported that Azarzal was assisted by his girlfriend, a reservist, in gathering information on Israeli military and air force bases. A joint Shin Bet and police investigation revealed that Azalzar sent photos and location information of sensitive sites over a period of more than a year, and even offered to provide his personnel with sensitive information from inside the base.
The incident is part of a troubling pattern for Israeli security services. Just a few weeks ago, Yosef Ain Eli, a 23-year-old from Tiberias, was detained on similar charges. Israeli media claimed he received funds to collect information on high-ranking hotels, IDF soldiers, and Iranian agents. Since the start of the Gaza war in 2023, the Shin Bet has busted more than 20 such spying cases.
Despite Israel’s extensive efforts to curb the phenomenon of Israeli citizens spying for Iran, the crisis appears to be growing. Shin Bet reports a staggering 400% increase in espionage cases identified in 2024 compared to the previous year. In a decisive move, the Israeli regime launched a major advertising campaign in July, desperately appealing to the Jewish population of occupied Palestine to resist the “economic” temptation to spy for Iran.
The surge in espionage activity coincides with recent statements by Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, who declared that a “treasure trove” of Israeli intelligence had been transferred to Iran. He said the documents contained information about nuclear weapons projects and joint ventures with the United States and European countries. Khatib said Israeli cooperation was motivated by both “material motives” and hatred for the “corrupt and criminal” Israeli prime minister.
According to an analysis by Iran’s Tasnim news agency, which is said to be connected to Iran’s military, the growing tendency of Israelis to spy on Iran stems from serious problems within Israel.
“Israel lacks a common national identity, as many of its citizens are immigrants with no common cultural or historical roots, resulting in less ‘national enthusiasm’ and more emphasis on personal interests,” the analysis said. It added that deep internal divisions, particularly between secular and Haredi Jews, and racism against minorities exacerbated the situation. The analysis also cited a deteriorating economy, which it linked to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies and the wars he waged against several countries over the past two years. “All these factors are creating widespread political, social and economic discontent,” the report concludes.
Iran’s intelligence minister said in a statement that despite the regime’s continued crackdown, Iran has a large number of active spies hiding in various sectors and divisions of the Israeli system.