Israeli Businessman Indicted in Iranian-Orchestrated Assassination Plot Appears in Court

Latest Developments

An Israeli businessman accused of participating in an Iranian plot to assassinate top Israeli leaders appeared in court in the city of Beersheba on September 19. A joint statement from the Israeli police and the Shin Bet intelligence agency alleged that 73-year-old Moti Maman, who maintains extensive business and social connections in Turkey, had been introduced to an Iranian operative through two of his Turkish contacts.

In April, Maman traveled to the Turkish city of Samandag, close to the border with Syria, for a meeting with the operative, named as “Eddy.” While the in-person meeting did not materialize on that occasion, the two held a phone call, and the following month, Maman was smuggled into Iran through the Turkish city of Van where he met with Eddy and another associate. During that encounter, Maman agreed to carry out intelligence missions in Israel for the Iranian regime, including placing money or a handgun at specified locations and taking photos of crowded public spaces, according to the Shin Bet. Maman traveled to Iran again in August, following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, meeting at Eddy’s residence with Iranian officials who asked him to advance an assassination plot targeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, or Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.

Expert Analysis

“The regime in Iran continues to plot assassinations against Israelis, Jews, and Iranian dissidents around the world. That should not surprise. What may surprise casual observers is that Turkey, a supposed NATO partner, once again has proven to be the staging ground for these terror operations.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“Never mind that kidnapping and assassination plots linked to Iran continue to be thwarted. The Islamic Republic continues to poke and prod in its quest to find a soft underbelly to strike at Israel and America using any means possible. That Tehran continues to seek out the assassination of high-ranking Israeli and American leaders also highlights the deterrence deficit that is at play currently.” — Behnam Ben Taleblu, FDD Senior Fellow

Maman Demanded One Million Dollars From Iranians

Maman is understood to have demanded $1 million in advance from the Iranians, who denied his request but handed him 5,000 Euros for participating in the meetings. He was arrested on his return to Israel in August, reportedly telling investigators, “It’s good that you arrested me, I don’t know where it could have gone.” Maman’s lawyer described his client as “a person who has greatly assisted the security services of the State of Israel, whose children serve in the security forces, and who made an error of judgment in the context of his business.”

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