Israeli authorities have indicted an Israeli citizen on security offenses for allegedly carrying out activities on behalf of foreign intelligence operatives targeting Israel, the Shin Bet security service and police said Friday.
The man was arrested by the Shin Bet and police and questioned on suspicion of being recruited by foreign intelligence operatives. The authorities say the investigation found that he had been involved in a foreign influence operation. An indictment and a request to keep him in custody until the end of legal proceedings were filed after the investigation concluded.
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His attorney, Ina Labdinsky-Katz, told Haaretz that he “never had access to any security or other information related to Israel.” She said he visited Israel once every few years for very short periods, adding that he “did not cause, and could not have caused, any harm to state security” and “was never asked to provide information related to Israel.”
The Israeli citizen was arrested a month ago after landing at Ben Gurion Airport and barred from meeting with his attorney for 20 days. Given the sensitivity of the case, a small team of police officers handled the investigation in coordination with the Central District prosecution office. State Prosecutor Amit Aisman and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara were involved in the investigation. The suspect’s detention was extended several times before prosecutors filed an indictment against him.
A court on Friday allowed details of the case to be published following a request by Haaretz.