Iran’s Espionage Reaches Inside Israel
How 18-Year-Old Moshe Atias Became an Iranian Spy in Israel
New details have emerged in the case of Moshe Atias, an 18-year-old from Yavne, who was arrested last month by Israeli police and the Shin Bet on suspicion of spying for Iran.
An 18-year-old Israeli man has been arrested and is under investigation on suspicion of conducting espionage activities on behalf of Iranian operatives. The suspect, Moshe Atias, a resident of Yavne, allegedly carried out a series of provocative tasks at the direction of Iranian handlers, including filming a hospital ward where former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was recently hospitalized, and burning Israel Defense Forces (IDF) uniforms while recording it.
According to the Shin Bet and Israel Police, Atias maintained contact with foreign terror elements and knowingly engaged in activities that could have compromised Israeli national security, allegedly in exchange for money.
Provocative Acts and Surveillance
Investigators say the connection between Atias and the Iranian operatives began with what appeared to be a paid "job", to burn a 50-shekel banknote with an obscenity directed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu written on it. The same task was later repeated using a sheet of paper.
As the contact deepened, Atias was allegedly instructed to film a secured area in a hospital in central Israel, specifically a floor where Naftali Bennett had been hospitalized following a cardiac event. The footage included scenes of security personnel guarding the former prime minister.
Another assignment involved setting IDF military uniforms on fire and recording the act, which investigators believe was meant to be symbolic, a visual tool for Iranian propaganda efforts.
During his interrogation, Atias reportedly expressed remorse and claimed he was exploited by foreign actors. He told investigators that most of the information he provided could be found “on Google Maps,” minimizing the severity of his actions.
However, the Shin Bet believes Atias was fully aware of the implications and willingly participated in the espionage scheme in return for payment. A statement from the agency said:
"He knowingly carried out multiple assignments for Iranian terror operatives, despite understanding the potential damage to state security - all for personal financial gain."
Attorney Shagi Greenfeld, who is representing Atias, responded to the allegations:
"We have not yet received the full body of evidence. When we do, we will present our case in court. At this stage, I can only say that this is an 18 year old young man from a difficult socio-economic background who was manipulated by foreign elements and did not fully grasp the situation he was drawn into."
Atias comes from a low-income family, and is one of several siblings raised by a single mother.
Atias's arrest is part of a growing pattern of attempts by Iranian intelligence to recruit Israeli citizens, especially those considered vulnerable, to conduct surveillance and psychological operations within Israeli territory.
In recent months, other cases have emerged:
National Security Warning
A joint statement from the Shin Bet and the Israel Police emphasized the strategic threat posed by such incidents:
“Iran continues to actively pursue Israeli citizens for intelligence and subversion purposes, often disguising recruitment through encrypted messaging apps, social media platforms, or seemingly innocent job offers.”
The agencies stressed that the Atias case, while serious, is not isolated — and that Iran’s cyber and psychological warfare campaigns pose an evolving challenge for Israeli counterintelligence.
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