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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 18:25 17/04/2007 Shin Bet uncovers Iranian attempts to recruit Israeli spies By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies The Shin Bet security service has detained an Israeli citizen of Persian descent on suspicion he had been recruited by Iran's Ministry of Intelligence, it emerged Tuesday. The man was held for questioning upon his return to Israel from a visit to Iran. During questioning, he admitted being recruited by Iranian intelligence officers and accepting money from them to "cover his costs." Shin Bet officials said he did not plan informing Israeli authorities of his contacts with Iranian officials, or that he had been asked to lure a relative who used to work for Israeli security agenices to Istanbul. Advertisement Over the past two years, Iran's security servicies have made at least 10 attempts to recruit Israeli citizens of Persian descent while they were visiting their relatives in Iran, Shin Bet sources said. Iran is not legally defined an enemy state, and Israeli citizens are permitted to travel there. According to Shin Bet, Iranian intelligence officers try to recruit Israelis seeking entry permits to Iran at their Istanbul consulate. Permit applicants undergo extensive questioning during which Iranian officials examine their political stance and other criteria. Israelis deemed suitable for recruitment are then arrested by Iranian police upon arrival in Tehran, and held for questioning. In some cases, Iranian authorities hold them for a number of months and threaten to detain them indefinitely unless they cooperate with Iranian intelligence services. "We're talking about low-grade data - such as the names of Israeli security or military personnel who might be approached by Iranian intelligence. At this stage, the Iranian emigres were being cultivated as spies," the Shin Bet official said. "We are not planning to press charges as all of these espionage attempts were intercepted and foiled," the official said without giving further details on the alleged spies. Army Radio cited a senior Shin Bet officer as saying his agency uncovered 10 recruitment attempts over the past two years. It said passport applicants at the Istanbul consulate were quizzed about their Israeli military service and about the general economic and security climate in Israel. Reserve Colonel Shimon Buyavsky, former head of the Iran-Iraq section in Israeli military intelligence, said it was possible that the Shin Bet had revealed its findings now in order to pressure Israeli civilian authorities to ban such visits. "I think the aim in making this public is to show Israelis the danger involved, to get the establishment to act against it and to tell the Iranians we know what they're up to," he told Army Radio. Tehran-born Avi Igai said he was issued an Iranian passport in Istanbul and visited Tehran, unhindered by the authorities, for a family wedding last September. "I went there for my niece's wedding and to visit my father's grave," he said, adding that he would consider going again as long as it is not against any law. Buyavsky warned, however, that people like Igai were tempting targets for an Iranian sting operation. "Next time, if he goes back, he may find that his niece who got married is now a hostage, and they can put her in prison if he does not start passing information from Israel," he said. "That's how it starts. Bookmark to del.icio.us Serious accusation Iran claims that U.S. data on their nuclear program came from spying. No plans to stop The Housing Minister says there's no reason to stop E. J'lem construction.   1.   Not an enemy state? 13:03  |  Dani Reiss 17/04/07   2.   What is interesting is that Iran does not share a border with 13:45  |  Avi 17/04/07   3.   What about Iranian Descent Katsav, Your president? 13:56  |  Tayfun_Turkey 17/04/07   4.   #2 I AM COMPLETELY SHOCKED 14:54  |  John Allen 17/04/07   5.   Now you can finally understand 18:42  |  * BEN JABO 17/04/07   6.   This piece of Shin Bet propaganda was rather spoiled today 19:27  |  Clickfool 17/04/07   7.   "Baseless stories like this come out from time to time" 19:36  |  andy 17/04/07   8.   Tayfun in Turkey. 19:42  |  David Israel 17/04/07   9.   watch out for traitors 21:00  |  Joe 17/04/07   10.   except, andy, Iran does not deny it. 21:21  |  Jake 17/04/07   11.   Bomb Iran 22:01  |  Solon 17/04/07   12.   #6 CLIKKY AND ABAD JOKE !! WHY WOULD ISRAEL BE STEALING EGYPTS 22:24  |  paul harris 17/04/07   13.   A few more of these we might see the first Jewish divide. 22:33  |  Lubnani Yehudi 17/04/07   14.   A few more of these we might see the first Jewish divide. 22:33  |  Lubnani Yehudi 17/04/07   15.   #6 Israeli Spy - Sure they need him 00:48  |  * BEN JABO 18/04/07   16.   jake 01:29  |  andy 18/04/07   17.   Lubnani `Yehudi`, are you speaking about the Lebanese there? 01:32  |  Jake 18/04/07   18.   Clickfool probably lauded the capture of British sailors 01:39  |  Jake 18/04/07   19.   Israeli spies are around you, mahal, sayanim... 02:00  |  mehmet 18/04/07   20.   Iran has the spying right as Israel has it 02:11  |  mehmet 18/04/07   21.   To Jake, Yes i was 03:55  |  Lubnani Yehudi 18/04/07   22.   #19 Mehmet - who would be foolish 08:34  |  * BEN JABO 18/04/07   23.   #21 Lubnani Yehudi 08:40  |  * BEN JABO 18/04/07   24.   IRAN SPIES 15:46  |  RAUL ROSENFELD 18/04/07   25.   An eye for an eye? 22:28  |  El_Justiciero 08/12/07

Today Online Bradley's Burston: Self Test: Are you a fanatic on the Middle East? Responses: 136 Rice warns Israel against East J'lem construction Responses: 279 Defense officials: Hamas upgraded Qassam arsenal Responses: 245 Magnate in U.K. scandal: I feared charges of a 'Jewish conspiracy' Responses: 133 Yoel Marcus: Olmert wants to leave his mark as a PM with a peace agenda Responses: 74 Rosner's Domain The attack on Hanukkah (WTR) The NIE and the freedom to grumble Poll: Do you trust the new intelligence on Iran? Israel Factor: Yes to Rudy, no to Mideast mediation More Headlines 21:55 Gates: Israel doesn't pose nuclear threat like Iran 17:51 Report: Hamas wants cease-fire with Israel in the Gaza Strip 22:28 Abbas aide: Bush's visit to Israel, PA set for Jan. 9 to 11 17:45 Housing Min.: There's no reason to cease E. Jerusalem construction 18:28 Magnate in U.K. scandal: I feared charges of a 'Jewish conspiracy' 18:00 Poll: Few West Bank settlers willing to leave homes for cash 20:56 Police remove left-wing activists that build fake settlement outpost 19:08 Thousands come to J'lem to protest plans to divide capital 17:41 Muslim religious heads from Indonesia pay a rare public visit to Israel 20:27 Arab League head urges world to increase aid to Palestinians Previous Editions Select Day 07 dec 06 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec 30 nov 29 nov 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov

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