Uncovered: Plot to Assassinate Netanyahu

An Israeli citizen was arrested last month for working with Iranian intelligence who asked him to assassinate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Shin Bet revealed on Thursday.

Other targets: The Iranian plot also included plans to assassinate Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

Context: This comes after:

• Iran promised a strong response to the assassination of Hamas’s top leader, Ismail Haniyeh;
• Two days after Hezbollah’s plot to assassinate former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon was uncovered.

It is also known that Iran had plans to kill Trump, a strong ally of Netanyahu, earlier this year.

The plot: The suspect is a 72-year-old Israeli businessman who lived in Turkey for some time and held meetings with members of Iranian intelligence while there.

In April, the suspect met with two men representing a wealthy Iranian businessman who couldn’t leave Iran.

Later, the suspect was smuggled over the border into Iran (it’s illegal for Israeli citizens to enter Iran), where he was asked to carry out work for the Iranian regime. This work included gathering surveillance of crowded areas in Israel, delivering money or weaponry across the country, and threatening other Israelis who failed to carry out assignments given by the regime.

He returned to Iran last month, where he was paid $5,568 for showing up and was asked to assassinate Netanyahu and other high-ranking Israeli officials. The suspect demanded $1 million up front but was refused.

While Israel is at war on multiple fronts, an Israeli citizen traveled to an enemy country twice, met with Iranian intelligence agents, and expressed willingness to commit serious acts of terrorism on Israeli soil. His actions have aided Iran and its intelligence agencies in their campaign against Israel.
—Shin Bet official

Temporary resurgence: There is a strong movement to blot out the name of Israel. But a temporary resurgence is coming soon to the United States, which will likely effect Britain and the Jewish state positively.

Learn more: Read “Who Is Behind the War on Netanyahu.”