Doron Buchbaza, a 29-year-old Israeli engineer, has been indicted for allegedly attempting to sell classified information to Iranian intelligence, including claims regarding access to a nuclear facility. He contacted agents through Telegram and completed tasks for cryptocurrency payments. His actions have raised significant concerns regarding national security and the ongoing recruitment efforts by foreign intelligence bodies.
An Israeli engineer has been indicted on charges of attempting to engage with Iranian intelligence and offer classified information, particularly concerning access to Israel’s nuclear research facility. Doron Buchbaza, 29, a resident of Be’er Sheva and employed at Haifa Chemicals South, faces accusations of contacting a foreign agent and transmitting sensitive information to an adversarial entity. His arrest occurred last month as a result of a collaborative operation conducted by Israeli police and the Shin Bet security agency.
According to investigators, Buchbaza reached out to Iranian intelligence through Telegram, displaying his intent with messages marked by the Iranian flag. He allegedly expressed, “I am an Israeli and I want to work with you.” Over several months, from December until his arrest in February, he reportedly performed various tasks for his Iranian contacts, including photographing sensitive locations and misrepresenting his access to the Negev Nuclear Research Center by providing publicly available information.
Authorities assert that Buchbaza initiated these communications, fully aware that he was corresponding with operatives of Iranian intelligence and recognizing the potential threat to national security. At one point, he filmed himself making a hand gesture in Be’er Sheva and took videos of supermarket prices for small cryptocurrency payments. The indictment reveals that he later expanded his efforts by offering to travel abroad to meet his handler and sending a photo of a communications rack, falsely claiming it was related to a nuclear facility.
The indictment of Doron Buchbaza underscores the ongoing threat posed by foreign intelligence efforts to recruit Israeli citizens for espionage activities. The Israeli authorities remain vigilant, emphasizing the importance of rejecting unsolicited foreign contact, particularly from adversarial nations. As investigations continue, they reiterate their commitment to protecting national security and prosecuting individuals engaged in such illicit activities.
Original Source: www.ynetnews.com
