Police, and Military Police, which suspected him of committing "grave security offenses, including maintaining contact with Iranian intelligence operatives and carrying out tasks under their direction." Today, military prosecutors filed an indictment charging him with passing information to the enemy with the intent to harm state security and for the benefit of the enemy, as well as contact with a foreign agent. The Shin Bet, police, and IDF say that during his interrogation, it emerged that the soldier had maintained contact with Iranian agents for about a year, during which he provided sensitive information about his unit's military activities, the IDF's readiness and call-ups, including details about his own call-up at the outbreak of the war with Iran earlier this year. "The investigation also found that the soldier acted with awareness of the identity of his Iranian handler," and that in exchange for the information he sent them, he received payment in cryptocurrency, the joint statement says. Prosecutors say that the soldier sent the Iranian handler information about military bases and their coordinates, and also photographed interceptors, military vehicles and American refueling aircraft parked at an airport in Israel. The soldier also "acted in a particularly grave manner and endangered those around him" by sending the Iranian handler details about his comrades and commanders, "knowing that the handler would seek to recruit them for espionage activities," the statement says. The investigation also found that the soldier sent his Iranian handler a Telegram group, known as "Kal Bakrav" (easy in battle), which is intended for young Israelis preparing to enlist in the military. The handler joined the group, according to the indictment. The Iranian handler at one point instructed the soldier to install "malicious communications applications for conducting encrypted conversations," and also offered to buy him a "dumb" phone and a pistol. The soldier and Iranian handler also agreed to use codes in their conversations, "and construct a cover story in case he was discovered by security forces," the statement says. Prosecutors also say that the soldier was offered $200,000 to travel to Iran. The soldier's arrest has currently been extended by a military court until November 12, although he is expected to remain held until the end of legal proceedings.
Die Behörden geben bekannt, dass ein israelischer Soldat verhaftet und angeklagt wurde, weil er im Austausch gegen Kryptowährung eine Reihe von Spionageaufträgen für den Iran ausgeführt haben soll. Der Soldat war im September nach einer gemeinsamen Untersuchung des Schin Bet, der israelischen Polizei und der Militärpolizei verhaftet worden. Dabei war der Verdacht aufgekommen, dass er „schwere Sicherheitsdelikte begangen hatte, darunter die Aufrechterhaltung von Kontakten zu iranischen Geheimdienstmitarbeitern und die Ausführung von Aufträgen unter deren Anleitung“. Heute erhoben Militärstaatsanwälte Anklage gegen ihn. Ihm wird vorgeworfen, dem Feind in der Absicht, die Sicherheit des Staates zu schädigen, und zum Nutzen des Feindes Informationen übermittelt zu haben sowie Kontakt zu einem ausländischen Agenten unterhalten zu haben. Der Schin Bet, die Polizei und die IDF erklären, dass bei seiner Vernehmung herausgekommen sei, dass der Soldat etwa ein Jahr lang Kontakt zu iranischen Agenten gehalten habe. In dieser Zeit habe er sensible Informationen über die militärischen Aktivitäten seiner Einheit, die Einsatzbereitschaft und Einberufungen der IDF weitergegeben, darunter Einzelheiten zu seiner eigenen Einberufung beim Ausbruch des Krieges mit dem Iran Anfang dieses Jahres. „Die Ermittlungen ergaben außerdem, dass der Soldat in Kenntnis der Identität seines iranischen Führungsoffiziers handelte“, heißt es in der gemeinsamen Erklärung. Als Gegenleistung für die von ihm übermittelten Informationen habe er Zahlungen in Kryptowährung erhalten. Die Staatsanwälte erklären, dass der Soldat dem iranischen Führungsoffizier Informationen über Militärstützpunkte und deren Koordinaten geschickt und außerdem Abfangjäger, Militärfahrzeuge und amerikanische Tankflugzeuge fotografiert habe, die auf einem Flughafen in Israel abgestellt waren. Der Soldat habe zudem „in besonders schwerwiegender Weise gehandelt und die Menschen in seiner Umgebung gefährdet“, indem er dem iranischen Führungsoffizier Einzelheiten über seine Kameraden und Vorgesetzten schickte, „in dem Wissen, dass der Führungsoffizier versuchen würde, sie für Spionageaktivitäten anzuwerben“, heißt es in der Erklärung. Die Ermittlungen ergaben außerdem, dass der Soldat seinem iranischen Führungsoffizier eine Telegram-Gruppe namens „Kal Bakrav“ („leicht im Kampf“) geschickt hatte. Sie richtet sich an junge Israelis, die sich auf ihren Militärdienst vorbereiten. Der Anklageschrift zufolge trat der Führungsoffizier der Gruppe bei. Der iranische Führungsoffizier wies den Soldaten laut Anklage irgendwann an, „schädliche Kommunikationsanwendungen für verschlüsselte Gespräche“ zu installieren, und bot ihm außerdem an, ihm ein „dummes“ Mobiltelefon und eine Pistole zu kaufen. Der Soldat und der iranische Führungsoffizier vereinbarten außerdem, in ihren Gesprächen Codes zu verwenden und „eine Tarnlegende zu entwickeln, für den Fall, dass er von Sicherheitskräften entdeckt würde“, heißt es in der Erklärung. Die Staatsanwälte erklären außerdem, dass dem Soldaten 200.000 Dollar für eine Reise in den Iran angeboten worden seien. Die Untersuchungshaft des Soldaten wurde von einem Militärgericht vorerst bis zum 12. November verlängert. Es wird jedoch erwartet, dass er bis zum Abschluss des Gerichtsverfahrens in Haft bleibt.
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An Israeli soldier has been arrested and charged with carrying out a slew of espionage tasks on behalf of Iran in exchange for cryptocurrency, authorities announce. The soldier had been arrested in September following a joint investigation carried out by the Shin Bet, Israel Police, and Military Police, which suspected him of committing "grave security offenses, including maintaining contact with Iranian intelligence operatives and carrying out tasks under their direction." Today, military prosecutors filed an indictment charging him with passing information to the enemy with the intent to harm state security and for the benefit of the enemy, as well as contact with a foreign agent. The Shin Bet, police, and IDF say that during his interrogation, it emerged that the soldier had maintained contact with Iranian agents for about a year, during which he provided sensitive information about his unit's military activities, the IDF's readiness and call-ups, including details about his own call-up at the outbreak of the war with Iran earlier this year. "The investigation also found that the soldier acted with awareness of the identity of his Iranian handler," and that in exchange for the information he sent them, he received payment in cryptocurrency, the joint statement says. Prosecutors say that the soldier sent the Iranian handler information about military bases and their coordinates, and also photographed interceptors, military vehicles and American refueling aircraft parked at an airport in Israel. The soldier also "acted in a particularly grave manner and endangered those around him" by sending the Iranian handler details about his comrades and commanders, "knowing that the handler would seek to recruit them for espionage activities," the statement says. The investigation also found that the soldier sent his Iranian handler a Telegram group, known as "Kal Bakrav" (easy in battle), which is intended for young Israelis preparing to enlist in the military. The handler joined the group, according to the indictment. The Iranian handler at one point instructed the soldier to install "malicious communications applications for conducting encrypted conversations," and also offered to buy him a "dumb" phone and a pistol. The soldier and Iranian handler also agreed to use codes in their conversations, "and construct a cover story in case he was discovered by security forces," the statement says. Prosecutors also say that the soldier was offered $200,000 to travel to Iran. The soldier's arrest has currently been extended by a military court until November 12, although he is expected to remain held until the end of legal proceedings.
