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Rabat – Israeli authorities arrested earlier this month an American-Israeli citizen who lived in Morocco in recent years, on suspicion of spying for Iran.
Converging media said that he was charged with spying on Herzi Halevi, ex-chief of the Israeli Occupation Forces, also known as IDF. He also allegedly spied on National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
The arrestee is identified as Yaakov Perl, aged 49.
He was initially arrested earlier this month, but the news of his detainment was not released until Thursday.
An investigation by the Shin Bet security agency, in cooperation with the National Crime Unit of the Israeli police, alleged that Perl, who lived in Morocco in recent years, contacted the Iranian embassy for the first time in 2017.
In a joint statement, the Israeli police and Shin Bet said that Perl published content critical of Israel and Zionism in 2023, accusing him of engaging with Iranian news outlets on social media in the same year.
After an article on Iran and Hezbollah, he was allegedly approached by Iranian operatives, “with whom authorities say he agreed to cooperate,” according to CNN.
The joining statement accused Perl of providing Iranians with information on Israeli public figures and citizens.
“As part of his activities, Perl also took photos and videos of various streets and locations throughout Israel. He was paid in cryptocurrency for his work,” the statement said.
A spokesperson from the US Department of State responded to the arrest of Perl, saying that whenever a US citizen is detained abroad, it “works to provide consular assistance in accordance with the law and our responsibilities under US and international law.”
CNN quoted the unidentified spokesperson, who said there would be no “further comment because of privacy concerns.”
