Network of Israeli citizens arrested after spying for Iran, police say
GuardianOct 20
Israel Arrests 7 Citizens Over Spy Allegations
Above: Israeli police secure the site of a drone strike as an ambulance drives past near the northern Israeli town of Binyamina, on Oct. 13, 2024, amid the continuing war between Israel and Hezbollah. Image copyright: Oren Ziv/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Israeli authorities arrested seven Israeli citizens on Monday over accusations that the group was gathering information on behalf of Iranian intelligence. Those arrested all lived in northern Israel, which has faced attacks from Iran-backed Hezbollah.
The seven alleged spies reportedly were tasked with collecting information on Israel's military bases and energy infrastructure, "focusing on air force and navy installations, ports, Iron Dome system locations, and energy infrastructure such as the Hadera power plant."
The Spin
Narrative A
Any Israeli resident who works with the country's enemies will be considered a traitor. Israel possesses a particularly strong and dynamic internal security apparatus and is more than capable of rooting out foreign agents. Iran will not be allowed to act so flagrantly.
Narrative B
Iran is preying upon the most vulnerable in Israeli society — recent immigrants who are facing difficulties adjusting to a new country and are experiencing financial hardships — to create spies in their surveillance apparatus. Israel will need to do more to make sure immigrants effectively assimilate into Israeli society and feel accepted, lest their bitterness be used against Israel.