Fifth Column
Israeli-Arab Student Arrested for Spying for Iran
Ben-Gurion University student acted on orders from Iranian intelligence, targeting civilians and infrastructure in exchange for money.
In a joint operation by the Israeli FBI (Shin Bet) and Israel’s Northern Police, agents arrested Bashar Hassan Qasem Musa, a 22-year-old information systems student at Ben-Gurion University, on suspicion of carrying out security missions at the behest of Iranian intelligence.
According to statements, Musa has been in contact with Iranian handlers for several months. Under their direction, he allegedly scattered nails on a major road near Beersheba, attempted a targeted assault against an unspecified “figure,” and engaged in efforts to inflame divisive speech. Musa received monetary compensation from Iran.
This arrest follows a recent series of similar incidents in which young Israelis were recruited via social media by Iranian operatives to perform tasks ranging from propaganda distribution to vandalism, espionage, and even arson, often for financial gain.
Authorities highlight Iran’s strategic shift in targeting younger Israelis, often through encrypted messaging apps, seeking to normalize low-level acts of sabotage before escalating to more dangerous missions .
The upcoming indictment will likely include charges of national-security offenses and illegal acts endangering public infrastructure.