Crime

By Pesach Benson • November 10, 2025

Jerusalem, 10 November, 2025 (TPS-IL) — A 27-year-old Tel Aviv resident was arrested on suspicion of collaborating with Iranian operatives, the israel police and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) announced on Monday.

According to investigators, the suspect, arrested on Thursday, initiated contact with Iranian officials via social media and carried out paid missions, including photographing public sites in Tel Aviv such as the Tel Aviv Museum, a park, and the site of an Iranian missile strike. The suspect received thousands of shekels in cryptocurrency, according to authorities.

During the arrest, authorities seized digital evidence and 18 SIM cards allegedly used for communication with foreign agents. Following interrogation, the suspect was released to his home without house arrest.

More than 30 Israelis have been charged with espionage on behalf of Iran in 2025.

Israeli Police spokesperson Dean Elsdunne recently told The Press Service of Israel that after agents make contact with an Israeli, “It starts out slowly, with small jobs, and slowly the money increases, and they are asked to do more severe crimes as time goes on.”

In most cases, spies are first asked to spray specific graffiti messages. Assignments often escalate to hanging flyers, starting fires, then taking photos of shopping malls, infrastructure, bases or the homes of Israeli figures. In some cases, they are asked to kill someone.

Israel launched preemptive strikes against Iranian nuclear sites on June 13, citing intelligence that Tehran had reached “a point of no return” in its pursuit of nuclear weapons. According to Israeli defense officials, Iran has developed the capacity to rapidly enrich uranium and assemble nuclear bombs, with sufficient fissile material for up to 15 weapons.

Israeli intelligence also exposed a covert program to complete all components of a nuclear device. The strikes marked a dramatic escalation in what officials describe as a broader Iranian strategy combining nuclear development, missile proliferation, and proxy warfare aimed at Israel’s destruction.

During 12 days of fighting, Iranian missile strikes killed 28 Israelis and injured over 3,000.