Israeli police have arrested two Israeli citizens accused of having organized a cell, on orders from Iran, to sabotage communications infrastructure and assassinate "an important person" in Israel, authorities announced today.
The police operation was carried out in coordination with the Shin Bet, the country's internal intelligence service, according to the Spanish news agency EFE.
One of those arrested was identified as Vladislav Victorson, 30, who, according to the Israeli investigation, recruited his partner Anna Bernstein, 18.
Both carried out acts of sabotage against communications infrastructure and ATMs, and burned cars near Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv.
"Some of the tasks described were documented and more than 5,000 dollars [4,575 euros, at the current exchange rate] were paid for them," the Shin Bet said in a statement.
"According to the results of the investigation, Vladislav even agreed to carry out a mission to eliminate a person in Israel," it added, without specifying.
According to the investigation, the pair were trying to obtain weapons, including sniper rifles, pistols and grenades.
Iranian intelligence services attempted to recruit a "significant number of Israelis" who, according to police, did not respond and reported them to the authorities.
"This investigation once again reveals the efforts of the Iranian intelligence services to recruit and exploit Israeli citizens in order to promote espionage and terrorist activities in Israel," the Shin Bet said.
In recent months, the Israeli intelligence service has announced a series of alleged Iranian plots in which Iran tried to trick Israelis online into carrying out missions for Tehran.
In January, authorities uncovered a scheme in which Israelis were allegedly recruited to gather information on prominent figures in Israel.
Israel has been at war with the Palestinian extremist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip for a year, but the conflict has spread to Lebanon and has also involved Iran.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated on July 31 in Tehran in an apparent Israeli attack.
In September, Israel killed several Hezbollah leaders in southern Beirut, including the pro-Iran Shiite group's top leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and an Iranian general in charge of external operations for the Islamic Republic's Revolutionary Guards.
In response, Iran launched about 200 missiles at Israel on October 1. The Israeli military said most were intercepted, but some hit central and southern Israel.
A further response from Israel is expected, which Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned would be a "deadly, precise and, above all, surprising" strike.
Iran leads the so-called "axis of resistance" against Israel, which includes Hamas, Hezbollah, Yemen's Houthi rebels and other paramilitary groups.
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