Israeli Businessman Moti Maman Arrested Over Iranian Plot to Kill Netanyahu, Gallant, Shin Bet Chief

Sep 19, 2024, 09:50 AM

Israeli security services have arrested Moti Maman, a 73-year-old Israeli businessman from Ashkelon, on charges of being recruited by Iran to assassinate high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar. Maman, who had been living in Turkey, was apprehended in August following a joint investigation by Shin Bet and Israeli police. According to the investigation, Maman had been smuggled into Iran twice for meetings with Iranian intelligence officers and had demanded $1 million for the assassination plot. The recruitment took place in April 2024. The plot was uncovered and thwarted by Israeli security services, but they warn that the Iranian threat remains ongoing. Channel 12 reported Maman saying, 'It's good that you arrested me, I don't know where it could have gone.'