Israel arrests husband and wife for spying for Iran
Israeli authorities arrested a couple suspected of gathering intelligence on sensitive national infrastructure sites and tracking high-profile academic figures on behalf of Iranian agents; it was cleared for publication on Thursday.
The arrest comes amid increased efforts by Iran to recruit Israeli citizens for espionage and other hostile activities.
The suspects were identified as Rafael Goliev and his wife, Lela, of Lod. They were recruited in what the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) described as “a covert Iranian intelligence network targeting Israeli citizens of Caucasian descent.”
According to Shin Bet sources, Rafael Goliev was reportedly recruited by Elshan Agayev, a 56-year-old Azeri operative working on behalf of Iranian officials. The investigation found that Goliev carried out surveillance missions, including monitoring sensitive security sites such as the Mossad headquarters.
Additionally, he gathered intelligence on a female academic affiliated with the Institute for National Security Studies, a think tank affiliated with Tel Aviv University. At one point, Goliev was instructed to find a potential assassin to act on Iran’s orders. His wife, Lela, reportedly assisted him in some of these operations.
The Shin Bet did not indicate whether the Golievs received payment from their handler or acted out of ideological reasons.
An indictment is due to be filed on Thursday.
Israeli security uncovered several Iranian plots to recruit Israelis in October. Two Israelis were arrested for their involvement in an Iranian plot to assassinate a high-profile Israeli figure. Another seven Israelis arrested for planning to assassinate a senior Israeli scientist and the mayor of a large Israeli city.
