WANA (Nov 17) – Israeli security sources have announced that Shimon Azerzer, a 27-year-old resident of Kiryat Yam, has been arrested by the Shin Bet and police on charges of spying for Iran. According to the reports, he had been in contact with an intelligence operative linked to Iran for more than a year and had gathered and transmitted sensitive information regarding the military and Air Force bases. An indictment has now been submitted to the court.

 

According to released documents and correspondence, a few hours before Israel’s attack on Iran last June, Azerzer received certain “indications” alerting him to the possibility of an imminent strike. He then contacted the same Iranian agent, who instructed him to install cameras near the residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

 

Azerzer, who was facing heavy debts amounting to 400,000 shekels and had an extensive criminal record, had even considered traveling to Iran at one point. In the exchanged messages, he expressed doubts about the safety of cooperating with the agent, saying: “Everyone who worked with you in Israel got caught. I don’t trust you one hundred percent.”

The Iranian agent advised him to replace his phone, arguing that “talking on your personal phone isn’t safe,” and then attempted to pressure him psychologically: “I owe money to people who are after me. They’ve found out that I’m talking to you.”

 

In another part of the correspondence, the agent invited Azerzer to travel to Iran with his family, offering him “a house, a car, and a high-income job.” When Azerzer replied that he was under a travel ban, the agent proposed buying him a ticket to Turkey, from where he would be “picked up.”

 

After Azerzer stated that he was wanted for questioning, the agent made an even more unusual suggestion: “I can arrange for you to leave Haifa by boat to Cyprus, and from there you can travel to Iran.”

 

Authorities have confirmed that the case has been referred to the court for legal review and proceedings.