Ben-Gurion University student arrested for espionage, sowing division on Iran’s behalf

Police and Shin Bet agents have arrested a Ben-Gurion University student on suspicion of attempting to attack a public figure at the behest of Iranian agents, authorities announced Thursday.

Bashar Hassan Qassem Musa, a 22-year-old resident of the Galilee village of Deir al-Asad studying information systems, was accused of maintaining contact with Iranian intelligence operatives for months before his arrest.

He allegedly carried out several missions for them, including an attempted attack on an unnamed public figure, scattering nails on a major route in Beersheba, and “encouraging divisive discourse.”

Police say he was ideologically motivated, spurred on by Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. As is usually the case with Iran-sponsored espionage, the suspect was said to have received financial compensation from his contact.

Later on Thursday, the suspect was indicted on charges of contact with a foreign agent, passing intelligence to the enemy and deliberate endangerment of human life on a transportation route.

Despite police’s claim that the suspect plotted an attack on a public figure, the allegation did not appear in the official indictment.

In a statement, Ben-Gurion University announced its intention to expel Musa permanently.

“Ben-Gurion University is shocked by the information indicating that collaboration with Iran has reached Beersheba as well. Since his arrest, the student has not been attending the university,” the school said in a statement quoted by Hebrew outlets.

“The university is awaiting details and confirmation from the State Attorney’s Office, after which it will initiate a disciplinary process for his permanent expulsion,” it continued.

Over the past two years, Iran has ramped up its efforts to recruit ordinary Israelis as spies in exchange for money. In most cases, Israelis are recruited by Iranian handlers online and begin by carrying out small, innocuous tasks that gradually grow into more serious offenses, like intelligence gathering and even assassination plots.

During Israel’s 12-day aerial campaign against Iranian nuclear targets, police and Shin Bet went public with the arrests of five suspects thought to have collaborated with the Islamic Republic via handlers they met online.

Earlier this week, three Israelis were arrested on such suspicions, one of whom allegedly gathered intelligence on the future daughter-in-law of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Near the outset of the war with Iran, security forces arrested two Israelis for alleged espionage for Tehran.

Of the dozens arrested and charged with espionage for Iran, only a few have been sentenced so far.