Man convicted of plotting assassinations for Iran sentenced to 10 years

Moti Maman, who was convicted in December by the Beersheba District Court over his contact with Iranian intelligence agents, is sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Maman, 73, was convicted on charges of contact with a foreign agent and entering an enemy state without authorization, after he visited Iran twice and met with Iranian intelligence officials to discuss assassinating senior Israeli public figures including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, or then-defense minister Yoav Gallant.

The court writes in the sentencing that Maman acted out of financial motivation, but notes that he did so during the ongoing war with Iran’s proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah.

Maman visited Iran first in April 2024 and then in August the same year, while the war with the two terror groups was still raging.

“The sentence should reflect a significant dimension of deterrence and convey a clear and distinct message regarding the punitive price that should be attached to holding illicit and unlawful ties between Israeli citizens and our enemies,” writes Judge Benny Sagi, president of the court.

Sagi said that he took into consideration the fact that Maman admitted to the crimes and expressed regret.