Exploitation of Partner’s IDF Service
Shocking Breach: How a Kiryat Yam Resident Sent Locations and Data on Key Israeli Security Sites to Iran
The Shin Bet and police uncovered a severe espionage case where a Kiryat Yam resident, Shimon Azarzar, maintained contact with Iranian intelligence for over a year, sending sensitive security data and exploiting his partner's Air Force reserve service for classified information.
A complex and serious case of espionage has been uncovered by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the Israel Police, revealing that an Israeli citizen maintained long-term contact with Iranian intelligence and passed on highly sensitive information about key security sites.
The suspect, identified as Shimon Azarzar, a 27-year-old resident of Kiryat Yam, was arrested in October along with his partner by the Shin Bet and a police coastal unit on suspicion of security offenses directed by Iranian operatives.
A Year of Covert Operations
The investigation’s findings indicate that for more than a year, Azarzar maintained regular and deliberate communication with Iranian intelligence officials, executing a variety of tasks assigned to him.
Among the specific assignments he carried out, Azarzar provided:
Crucially, the investigation found that Azarzar exploited his intimate relationship with his partner, an Israeli citizen who serves in the reserves at an Air Force base. He allegedly extracted information from her specifically related to the IDF and the Air Force facilities, using their relationship as a means to gain access to classified defense details.
Digital Payments and Indictment
The investigation also confirmed that Azarzar received financial compensation for his espionage activities, with the payments being transferred to him digitally by his handlers in Iran. This method of payment highlights the sophisticated nature of the clandestine network and the long-term commitment of the foreign intelligence agency.
After compiling the extensive findings from the joint Shin Bet and police probe, the State Prosecutor’s Office announced today, Sunday morning, that a formal indictment will be filed against Shimon Azarzar in the Haifa District Court.
The case underscores the persistent and often personal threat posed by foreign intelligence agencies like Iran, which actively seek to recruit Israeli citizens and exploit their connections to defense and security institutions for espionage and subversion.