An 18-year-old Israeli from the central city of Yavne has been arrested on suspicion of accepting Iranian orders to collect intelligence on the security detail of former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, the Shin Bet and Israel Police have confirmed.
The suspect, identified as Moshe Atias, was arrested in April on suspicion of national security offences after collecting intelligence outside the cardiac unit of Meir Medical Centre in Kfar Saba during the former premier's cardiac catheterisation, according to the joint statement.
"At the request of the Iranian operator, the suspect documented a floor in the hospital that contained a room with guards who secured the former prime minister," the statement claimed.
Under instruction from his handlers, who were said to have been linked to "Iranian terror elements", Atias is alleged to have conducted "a large number of different missions, while understanding that these could harm state security, all for the sake of financial gain”.
Authorities urged the Israeli public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious messages from unknown individuals offering "jobs" or other assignments for the Shin Bet or the Israel Police.
In a statement, Bennett, who served a one-year term as prime minister between June 2021 and June 2022, said he would "not be deterred from continuing to act for Israel's security".
"Tehran, not Tel Aviv, should be on the defensive," he went on. "I trust all [our] security forces and [will] continue my tours and meetings with the Israeli public throughout the country. Iranian attempts to assassinate world leaders have failed and will fail here as well.”
Israel's Kan News noted that the arrest of Atias marked the 19th high-profile espionage case in the Jewish state involving Tehran.
In a separate investigation made public on Friday, the Israel Police and Shin Bet announced the arrest of a minor from the Judean Foothills outside Jerusalem on suspicion of "carrying out activities for Iranian entities in exchange for money".
The suspect, 16, allegedly carried out numerous "missions" on behalf of the Islamic Republic, including hiding money, photographing sites, printing posters, as well as burning a page and banknote bearing slogans against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He was reportedly instructed by Tehran to purchase a new mobile phone and install a designated application to facilitate their communication, according to the charges, which were made public on Friday.
Additionally, when the suspect went on a holiday abroad, his Iranian handlers were said to have proposed an in-person meeting with him.
