Permitted for Publication: Bnei Brak Resident Followed a Nuclear Scientist on Behalf of Iran
The State Prosecutor’s Office has indicted Asher Binyamin Weiss of Bnei Brak for allegedly tracking an Israeli nuclear scientist under the guidance of Iranian agents, possibly intending to assassinate him. Weiss faces charges of contact with a foreign agent, aiding an enemy, and obstructing justice.
The indictment, led by Attorney Yonatan Eliyahu Tal, details how Weiss, following the agent’s instructions, committed acts to destabilize state security: setting cars on fire, blocking roads with pipes, spraying inflammatory graffiti, and posting seditious leaflets across Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan. Weiss documented these actions for the agent, who reportedly paid him thousands in cryptocurrency.
Investigators found that Weiss was instructed to retrieve a mysterious bag from a park in Petah Tikva, pinpointed by a foreign contact suspected of working for a hostile state. Despite failing to locate the bag, Weiss confirmed the mission to his handler. Phone records placed him in Petah Tikva on August 28, aligning with the mission’s timing.
Weiss also admitted to hanging and later removing seditious posters across Tel Aviv. Evidence shows he ordered these posters through a printing shop, tracked by his email, and searched for “central streets in Tel Aviv.” Additionally, he photographed locations with phrases like “Hello Tel Aviv,” against various backdrops around Israel.
To maintain secrecy, Weiss used a special SIM card in an old phone. He confessed to graffitiing inflammatory messages, though he claimed he erased them soon after. However, his inability to recall locations hindered verification.
A key piece of evidence involved Weiss photographing a house in Rehovot and sending the footage, including details of a nearby black car, to his handler. He gave contradictory explanations regarding the residents and the documentation.
Authorities discovered transfers totaling $25,271 to Weiss’s digital wallets, allegedly from an Iranian-linked external contact. Weiss systematically attempted to cover up his connection, discarding his phone and misleading investigators when police searched his home.
Initially, Weiss claimed ignorance of his handlers’ identities, believing them criminal or political figures. But, as evidence mounted, he admitted he “highly suspected” an Iranian link.
The investigation has demonstrated Weiss’s awareness of his collaborators and the security implications of his actions. Prosecutors are seeking his detention until the legal proceedings conclude.
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