Israeli teen arrested on suspicion of gathering intel for Iran on former PM Bennett during recent hospitalization

Police and Shin Bet agents have arrested yet another Israeli citizen suspected of spying for Iran, after he allegedly gathered intelligence on former prime minister Naftali Bennett when he was hospitalized last month.

Eighteen-year-old Yavne resident Moshe Attias, who was arrested in April, is one of many Israelis who have been arrested in recent months on charges of espionage on Iran’s behalf, in return for small sums of money.

The detainee is suspected of “gathering intelligence in the cardiology department of a hospital in central Israel,” where Bennett was being treated. He allegedly filmed in Kfar Saba’s Meir Medical Center, documenting the floor and room where the ex-premier was located.

Police say that Attias carried out other missions for his Iranian handlers, but do not elaborate on the additional suspicions.

In a statement regarding the espionage, Bennett’s office says that Iranian attempts on world leaders’ lives “have failed and will fail here too, and will certainly not deter Bennett from continuing to work for the sake of Israeli security.”

He calls on Israel to take a more aggressive position towards Iran, insisting that “Tehran, not Tel Aviv, should be on the defensive.”