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3. Israeli Arrested for Spying on Ex-Defense Minister Gallant for Iran

The Israeli General Security Service filed charges Monday against an Israeli man for allegedly gathering intelligence on former defense minister Yoav Gallant on behalf of an Iranian agent.

The defendant, Fares Abu al-Hija, 32, was arrested in late January after taking photos of streets near Gallant’s home in Amikam for his handler, according to the indictment. Al-Hija was paid in cryptocurrency to carry out the intelligence-gathering missions.

A joint statement from the police and the Shin Bet security service said the defendant is from the Galilee village of Kaukab Abu al-Hija. The statement asserted that Iran is increasing its efforts to engage Israelis as spies within the country.

Law enforcement “takes a very serious view of any involvement in such activities and will continue to bring to justice those involved in harming the country’s security and its citizens,” they said.

Over the past two years, dozens of Israelis have been charged with espionage on behalf of Iran. In many of the cases, Iranian agents recruited Israelis via social media, specifically the Telegram messaging app.

Last week, two Israeli citizens were arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran in exchange for money. Earlier this month, a 22-year-old ultra-Orthodox yeshiva student from Beit Shemesh, convicted of carrying out espionage missions for Iran, was sentenced to three years in prison.