Four Jewish Israeli women have recently been arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran, the Shin Bet security agency announced on Wednesday after a gag order was lifted.
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After an extensive investigation, it transpired that the suspects were contacted on social media by a man calling himself Rambod Namdar and pretending to be Jewish, but was in fact an Iranian operative. After establishing a relationship, he tasked the suspects with photographing sites across Israel, for which they were paid.
One suspect, a 40-year-old woman from Holon, was allegedly in touch with Namdar for several years, during which he asked her to secretly photograph the US Embassy Branch Office in Tel Aviv, the inside of the Interior Ministry building in her city, and the National Security Agency, and other locations. The suspect's husband was aware of her connection with Namdar, and even gave her a lift to the US Embassy building.
Another suspect, a 57-year-old woman from Beit Shemesh, kept in touch with Namdar for four years, and allegedly completed several tasks at his bequest, making close to $5,000. She also shared with the operative footage from the swearing-in of her son into the IDF, and footage of the swearing-in of the 23rd Knesset.
She also reportedly installed hidden cameras in her at-home massage room and tried to develop a relationship with MK Keti Shitrit, updating Namdar on the ties.
Two other suspects are a 47-year-old woman from Kfar Saba and a 50-year-old woman from Jerusalem. Both shared photographs and information with Namdar.
All four suspects are Jewish immigrants from Iran or descendants of Iranian immigrants. Some admitted they had suspicions that Namdar was an Iranian operative, but kept in contact with him nevertheless.
All four suspects were indicted earlier on Wednesday in the Jerusalem District Court. Their names are barred from publication following a gag order issued by the court at the request of the suspects' attorneys.
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