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Lod Couple and Bnei Brak Man Indicted in Latest Iranian Spy Ring Uncovered in Israel

Edited by:  Fern Sidman

A couple from Lod, Israel, Rafael and Lala Guliyev, both around 32 years old, were indicted Thursday on charges of espionage for Iran. According to a detailed report in The Times of Israel , the couple allegedly gathered intelligence on sensitive national infrastructure sites and monitored an academic affiliated with a prominent security think tank. According to officials, this academic was allegedly a target for physical harm, bringing a sense of gravitas to the severity of the alleged espionage operation. The indictment of the Guliyevs is the latest in a series of espionage cases involving suspected Iranian influence, marking a concerning pattern of attempted infiltration and surveillance within Israel’s borders.

ISRAEL: A Lod couple was indicted for alleged spying for Iran, gathering intel on infrastructure, and tracking an academic at a security think tank. Last week, a Bnei Brak man was charged for allegedly following a nuclear scientist in a suspected Iranian assassination plot.

— KolHaolam (@KolHaolam) October 31, 2024

The Shin Bet and Israel Police, in a joint statement, disclosed that the Guliyevs were part of a wider Iranian espionage network that had been recruiting Israeli citizens, specifically targeting immigrants from the Caucasus region. As per the information provided in The Times of Israel report,  the couple was recruited by an individual named Elshan (Elchanan) Agyeiv, a 56-year-old Israeli of Azerbaijani origin, who reportedly acted as a liaison between the Guliyevs and Iranian intelligence. This network was allegedly operated by Iranian handlers who sought to gather intelligence on strategic Israeli sites and identify individuals connected to Israel’s security sector.

The indictment accuses Rafael Guliyev of conducting surveillance on high-profile security locations, including the Mossad headquarters near Tel Aviv. Additionally, he is said to have tracked a female academic at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), a well-respected Israeli think tank.

Lala Guliyev, Rafael’s wife, is believed to have assisted him in several of these espionage activities, reinforcing the scope and complexity of their alleged missions. The report in The Times of Israel highlighted that Rafael was allegedly tasked by Iranian handlers with finding an assassin for an attack, indicating the high-stakes nature of the operation.

The Guliyev case is part of a troubling trend of espionage activities allegedly linked to Iran. The Times of Israel report revealed that just hours after the couple’s indictment, prosecutors announced that another man, Asher Binyamin Weiss from Bnei Brak, had been charged the previous week with similar espionage-related activities. Weiss allegedly tracked a nuclear scientist targeted by Iranian operatives in an assassination plot, which was foiled after the discovery of an Iranian cell planning the operation.

Bnei Brak man allegedly tracked nuclear scientist, Lod couple filmed Mossad HQ in fre https://t.co/rAH5brxR70

— drdivine (@drdivine) October 31, 2024

Both cases bear striking similarities: the suspects reportedly engaged in detailed surveillance, tracking security figures, photographing and filming their homes and vehicles, and relaying this information to Iranian handlers. The handlers, according to the Shin Bet, aimed to recruit individuals who could act as assassins within Israel, showcasing the broader agenda of Iranian intelligence to disrupt Israel’s security.

Iran’s focus on recruiting Israeli citizens, especially immigrants from the Caucasus region, reveals a targeted strategy to exploit cultural and linguistic ties for intelligence gathering.  As was indicated in The Times of Israel report, the Shin Bet reported that this recruitment network is designed to infiltrate Israeli society by leveraging the backgrounds of individuals who may have personal or cultural connections to Iran or neighboring regions. This pattern of recruitment is seen as part of Iran’s ongoing efforts to weaken Israeli security through both espionage and terrorist activity.

A Shin Bet official highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating, “The investigation revealed once again the efforts of the Iranian intelligence agencies to recruit and exploit Israeli citizens in order to promote espionage and terrorist activity in Israel,” The Times of Israel reported. This statement draws attention to the repeated attempts by Iran to build intelligence networks within Israel, a move that poses a significant threat to the country’s national security.

Prosecutors revealed that Rafael Guliyev had been in contact with two Iranian operatives since 2021, communicating with his handlers through encrypted messaging apps, primarily Telegram. According to The Times of Israel report, the Iranian agents directed Guliyev to undertake intelligence-gathering missions, with a particular focus on Israeli infrastructure and key personnel. Guliyev is accused of taking the initiative to suggest additional activities he believed could benefit his handlers, demonstrating his alleged proactive role in the espionage activities.

Among his assignments, Guliyev was paid $600 per day for conducting surveillance on a female academic at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), a prominent Israeli think tank. He reportedly spent extensive time photographing and filming her home and vehicle, relaying the collected data back to Iranian agents, the report in The Times of Israel said. His handlers advised him to exercise extreme caution, encouraging him to use encryption software and avoid detection. The Times of Israel reports that Guliyev invested in equipment specified by his handlers, including a dedicated phone, high-quality cameras, and a laptop.

The Guliyevs allegedly conducted surveillance on numerous strategic sites across Israel, including the Israel Electric Corporation facilities, Haifa Port, water infrastructure in Hadera, and public bomb shelters in Tel Aviv. Additionally, The Times of Israel report indicated that they photographed the Moldovan consulate in Tel Aviv and captured images of posters near Tel Aviv’s Kirya military base depicting Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on October 7.

The couple’s activities were reportedly well-compensated. According to the indictment, they received a total of $26,000 from Iranian operatives, highlighting the extent of their alleged involvement and the financial incentives offered by Iranian intelligence to gather sensitive information.

The timing of the alleged espionage has exacerbated concerns among Israeli security officials, given that the country is currently engaged in what prosecutors describe as “one of the most difficult wars it has ever known, on many fronts, including Iran.” The Times of Israel also reported that the Guliyevs’ actions indicate a pattern of attempted infiltration by Iran, which has been implicated in several recent cases of espionage within Israel.

The Times of Israel report explained that in response to these incidents, a senior Shin Bet official stated that Iran is actively attempting to “draft and take advantage of Israeli citizens for the purpose of spying and terror acts in Israel.” Law enforcement agencies remain committed to addressing these threats, with a police source emphasizing that they will work relentlessly “against those conscienceless criminals who cooperate with the enemy and endanger the Israeli public.”

The INSS, whose personnel were reportedly targeted in the espionage, expressed gratitude to the Shin Bet for foiling the plot. Also noted in the Times of Israel report was that Tamir Hayman, the chief of INSS, remarked that it is “not surprising that INSS people are a target for Iran and its proxies,” given the think tank’s prominent role in security research. Hayman confirmed that he has remained in regular contact with relevant security services and is following their guidance on security measures.

The State Attorney’s Office has also filed a detailed indictment against Asher Binyamin Weiss, a resident of Bnei Brak, on charges of espionage and sabotage on behalf of Iran. According to the report in The Times of Israel, Weiss allegedly monitored an Israeli nuclear scientist whom Iran sought to assassinate. His charges include contact with a foreign agent, passing information to the enemy, and obstruction of justice, reflecting the grave nature of his alleged activities.

The indictment reveals that Weiss used a GoPro camera to film the home and vehicle of an Israeli nuclear scientist. This footage was then relayed to an Iranian agent, who reportedly forwarded it to an East Jerusalem resident tasked with carrying out the assassination. As per The Times of Israel report, the case, part of a larger investigation, led to the arrest of seven men from East Jerusalem last month, all allegedly linked to an Iranian spy network. These arrests shed light on a troubling pattern of espionage, with The Times of Israel reporting that Iranian handlers had embedded agents within Israel to monitor and potentially harm key figures in Israeli security.

In addition to tracking the nuclear scientist, Weiss is accused of carrying out acts of sabotage. According to the information contained in The Times of Israel report, he allegedly set cars ablaze, spray-painted inflammatory graffiti, and distributed posters in Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan calling for civil revolt. These acts of sabotage were aimed at destabilizing Israeli society and creating public unrest. For these missions, prosecutors say, Weiss was compensated with thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency, a secure and traceable method of payment that allowed him to discreetly receive funds from Iranian operatives.

Weiss documented his actions meticulously, sending photographic evidence to his Iranian handlers as proof of his compliance. This level of reporting highlights the structured nature of his alleged espionage and sabotage activities, indicating a high degree of coordination between Weiss and his foreign contacts.

The indictment against Weiss is part of a broader crackdown on alleged Iranian spy cells operating within Israel. The Times of Israel reported that seven men from East Jerusalem, aged 19 to 23 and mostly without prior criminal or security records, were arrested in connection with the same assassination plot targeting the nuclear scientist. These men, all from the Beit Safafa neighborhood, reportedly conducted various tasks for their Iranian handlers, including vandalizing sites in Jerusalem, spray-painting graffiti calling for the release of Israeli hostages, and photographing sensitive locations.

Among these suspects is Rami Alian, a 23-year-old who is believed to have led the cell. According to the indictment, Alian was ordered to carry out a violent attack against a security serviceman, involving the use of a hand grenade. Although this attack was ultimately not carried out, it marks an escalation in the network’s operations, transitioning from espionage to planned physical violence. Six of the suspects in this ring hold Israeli citizenship, while the seventh is a permanent resident, illustrating the infiltration of Iranian agents into various levels of Israeli society.

To ensure secrecy, Iranian handlers paid their Israeli contacts in cryptocurrency, which provides a secure and often anonymous means of payment. This approach minimizes the risk of detection, as traditional bank transfers or cash payments would leave more identifiable traces. The Times of Israel report detailed that in addition to the payments, the agents used encrypted communications channels, allowing them to issue instructions and receive updates from their operatives without arousing suspicion. These methods reflect the sophistication of Iranian intelligence operations and their commitment to evading Israeli security detection.

The spate of arrests and indictments brings to light the vigilance of Israeli authorities in countering Iranian espionage efforts. The report in The Times of Israel said that law enforcement agencies, including the Shin Bet, are stepping up efforts to dismantle these networks, which have become increasingly bold in recent months. In a statement, a senior police source emphasized that law enforcement will relentlessly pursue “those conscienceless criminals who cooperate with the enemy and endanger the Israeli public.”

The INSS, whose personnel were targeted in the surveillance efforts, expressed gratitude to the Shin Bet for preventing the attack. Tamir Hayman, head of the INSS, noted that it is “not surprising that INSS people are a target for Iran and its proxies,” given the institute’s role in Israeli security research, as was noted in The Times of Israel report .Hayman has reportedly been in continuous contact with security services, taking necessary precautions to safeguard the institute’s staff and facilities.

At the center of one plot was 23-year-old Rami Alian, who, along with his accomplices, was allegedly instructed to assassinate a nuclear scientist. The Times of Israel reported that Alian was given the scientist’s photo and address, with the promise of a NIS 200,000 ($53,000) reward for successfully completing the mission. According to Israeli authorities, Alian began preparations for the assassination by gathering information on the scientist’s daily routines, personal whereabouts, and other critical details. However, Israeli security forces apprehended the cell before they could advance further with the plot.

This case is part of a broader strategy, the Shin Bet claims, in which Iran seeks to exploit Israelis for missions involving intelligence gathering, targeted violence, and sabotage. The operations reveal not only the meticulous planning involved but also Iran’s intent to harm Israel’s nuclear program and neutralize individuals associated with the country’s defense and intelligence sectors.

The plot against the nuclear scientist is one of several recent Iranian-led efforts that have surfaced in Israel. In September, As The Times of Israel reported, seven Jewish Israelis were arrested on suspicion of spying on Israeli security figures and military bases for Iran. These individuals allegedly collected information on several Israeli citizens, including a senior security figure whose identity remains undisclosed. They tracked the individual’s movements, took photos at his home, and reportedly even surveilled his children. Authorities have not confirmed if this senior security figure was the same nuclear scientist targeted in Alian’s case, leaving open the possibility of multiple targets under Iranian surveillance.

In a separate incident, an individual from Ashkelon was detained on allegations that he had been smuggled into Iran twice, receiving training and payment to carry out espionage. The report in The Times of Israel noted that this man was allegedly tasked with plans to assassinate one of Israel’s top officials, potentially including the prime minister, the defense minister, or the head of the Shin Bet.

The Shin Bet has also documented additional cases involving Iranian attempts to recruit Israelis for subversive activities. On October 14, a man and his 18-year-old partner from Ramat Gan were arrested for allegedly conducting acts of sabotage on behalf of an Iranian agent, according to the information contained in The Times of Israel report.  This pair, much like other suspects, allegedly committed various acts of vandalism and disruption under Iran’s instructions.

Two days later, on October 16, Israeli authorities detained a central Israel resident who allegedly acquired a weapon with the intention of assassinating an Israeli scientist. The Times of Israel explained that the individual had performed several preliminary tasks on behalf of his Iranian handler, preparing to escalate to more severe actions. These cases suggest a systematic Iranian effort to groom operatives within Israel, preparing them first with minor assignments before moving them onto more serious and violent missions.

In recent months, the Shin Bet has exposed a concerning trend of Iranian operatives attempting to recruit Israelis through online platforms. According to The Times of Israel, Iranian handlers have increasingly resorted to digital channels, contacting Israelis under various pretenses and manipulating them into conducting surveillance and other operations. This recruitment strategy allows Iran to cast a wide net, targeting Israelis who may have limited security knowledge but could be lured by financial incentives or ideological alignment.

-->6e664a6fMsoNormal">In January, Israeli authorities revealed a scheme in which Iranian agents had managed to recruit several Israeli citizens to gather intelligence on prominent figures. Through a combination of online messaging platforms and encrypted communications, Iranian handlers instructed recruits to gather details on various targets, underscoring the growing sophistication of Iran’s espionage operations within Israel.

Israeli authorities are responding with heightened vigilance, particularly around prominent security figures and critical infrastructure. Law enforcement sources emphasize their commitment to pursuing anyone “who cooperates with the enemy and endangers the Israeli public,” sending a clear message that espionage and sabotage will be met with swift legal action.