The Israeli domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet and the Israel Police have announced that they again uncovered and thwarted an espionage attempt by Iranian intelligence services targeting former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, arresting a suspect.

According to the security services, the individual is 30-year-old Israeli citizen Lekacho Demsash from Rishon LeZion, who was taken into custody last month (December 2025). Investigators believe he received several assignments from Iranian contacts, including photographing locations in his hometown and near Bennett’s residence. This activity is said to have been part of an alleged Iranian reconnaissance program aimed at preparing for potential attacks.

The prosecution filed an indictment against him on Monday at the Central District Court in Lod.

The suspect reportedly communicated with his Iranian handlers via social media over several months and was paid for various tasks, starting with simple missions and progressing to targeted surveillance. Security sources assess this action as part of a series of Iranian-directed attempts to recruit Israeli citizens for espionage, often offering financial incentives in exchange for sensitive information.

According to the authorities, this case resembles an earlier one that became public about a month ago (late December 2025), in which another suspect (Vadim Kupriyanov, also from Rishon LeZion) was arrested for allegedly carrying out surveillance tasks near Bennett’s residence on behalf of Iranian intelligence. The security authorities are warning the public against establishing contact with suspected foreign agents through social networks or other channels.

These actions take place against the backdrop of a long history of tensions between Israel and Iran, particularly in the realm of intelligence and security. International tensions and covert operations between the two countries have increased in recent years, with Israeli services repeatedly warning of Iranian-directed networks within Israel.

According to security sources, dozens of Israelis have been charged in the past two years in connection with suspected espionage attempts on behalf of Iran. In many cases, these individuals were recruited through digital communication or social media and paid for collecting information on strategic targets.

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