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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference for the international media at the Government Press office in Jerusalem. (Image: Reuters)
Israeli security services arrest a businessman linked to an Iranian-backed plot to assassinate Netanyahu
Israeli security services on Thursday announced that they had arrested an Israeli citizen on suspicion of involvement in an Iranian-backed assassination plot targeting top officials including the prime minister.
The suspect, whose name has not been disclosed, was reportedly smuggled into Iran twice and received payment for the assassination missions, The Times of Israel reported. According to a joint statement from the Shin Bet and Israeli police, the individual is a businessman who spent significant time in Turkey, where he developed connections with both Turkish and Iranian nationals.
המטרה: ראש הממשלה, שר הביטחון וראש השב”כ – אזרח ישראלי גויס על ידי גורמי מודיעין באיראן לקידום התנקשות באישים ישראלייםבמסגרת פעילות סיכול משולבת של שירות הביטחון הכללי ויאחב”ל בלהב 433, נעצר במהלך חודש אוגוסט אזרח ישראלי בחשד לביצוע עבירות ביטחוניות שעניינן קשר עם גורמי מודיעין… pic.twitter.com/hzWY1WDccG
— משטרת ישראל (@IL_police) September 19, 2024
Travelled To Turkey
Earlier in April, through intermediaries Andrey Farouk Aslan and Junayd Aslan, the suspect arranged to meet an Iranian businessman named Eddy to discuss potential business opportunities. According to the Israeli media, the probe revealed that the suspect traveled to Samandag, Turkey, where he met with representatives of Eddy. During this meeting, they communicated with Eddy via phone since he couldn’t leave Iran.
Later in May, after further meetings in Turkey, the suspect was smuggled into Iran through a land crossing near Van. Once in Iran, the Israeli man met with Eddy and another individual named Khwaja, who claimed to be part of Iran’s security forces. During their discussions at Eddy’s residence, the Iranian officials proposed various missions for the suspect, including delivering money or weapons to specific locations in Israel and gathering intelligence on public areas.
Assassination Plot
During subsequent meetings in August, Iranian intelligence officials requested that the suspect carry out assassination attacks on prominent Israeli leaders. They also explored options for targeting other senior officials, including former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
The assassination plans were reportedly motivated by a desire for revenge following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, which Israel is believed to have arranged. The Israeli suspect initially requested USD 1 million as an advance payment before agreeing to undertake any tasks. Before leaving Iran after his second visit, the suspect received 5,000 Euros from an Iranian intelligence agent for his participation in the meetings, according to Israeli media outlets.
