At first glance, it seems that by recruiting four Israeli woman to spy on its behalf, Iran did not gain much. After all, the information that the alleged suspects shared – photographs of the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, the Interior Ministry and the National Security Agency in Holon, and mall security arrangements – can be found online relatively easily.
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However, by making light of the affair, and calling it "the grandmothers' underground organization" – as it has been dubbed on social media due to the age of the suspects – one misses the point.
Firstly, because Iran succeeded in recruiting Israelis for spying purposes, although this is a complex task, especially when it comes to two hostile nations.
Secondly, because simple tasks are just the beginning for newly-recruited agents. These are designed to build them up and test their abilities and willingness to take risks. Along the way, the operator also builds trust with the agents, with money being a major incentive.
Thirdly, every intelligence organization builds "intelligence files" on a variety of topics. A file on the structure and security of the US Embassy could be used in the future to transfer information to a terrorist organization; close ties to a Knesset member can help understand the government's course of action and lead to attempts to affect it.
And lastly, one must never underestimate Iran. Although they lag behind Israel in operational capabilities, they are a major and serious nation working diligently to catch up with the Jewish state on all fronts.
Making light of this seemingly negligible affair might result in a much more serious one in the future. This is why the Shin Bet security agency shows is strict when it comes to such cases, also to deter others from following in the suspects' footsteps.
However, the current affair must also be looked at as part of an overall war between Israel and Iran.
The Israeli public tends to look at it through one prism: will Tehran have a nuclear weapon or not. But this is a grave mistake. Iran is a regional power with clear imperialist aspirations it does not even hide. It invests a lot of effort and money to advance its goals, with occasional success.
In this regard, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his government deserve some credit. In recent months, they have conducted discussions on how to deter Iran, not just in terms of the nuclear aspect, but overall.
It is a complex task that requires cooperation between a variety of systems (intelligence, operational, economic, and diplomatic) in Israel and worldwide, and the understanding that this is a marathon, not a race.
This insight must be understood by the public as well. May no more Israelis ignore such clear suspicions and attempt to help Iran in the future.
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