In a recent court indictment, it has come to light that last May, Murad Kamamaja, a Palestinian hailing from the village of Dan in Samaria, engaged in multiple meetings in Jordan with an individual named Hassan Zakharna. During these clandestine encounters, Zakharna revealed his identity as an Iranian citizen working for the Iranian General Intelligence agency. Shockingly, the content of their discussions involved sinister plans to incite chaos, including arson attacks on vehicles and gas stations, as well as vandalism against businesses.
Moreover, the Iranian intelligence operative, Zakharna, allegedly sought Kamamaja's assistance for a series of activities, which included smuggling weapons from Jordan, clandestinely photographing law enforcement officers and elected officials, and even the assassination of former Member of Knesset (MK) Yehuda Glick, who had previously survived a serious assassination attempt. Zakharna purported that these plans were not only sanctioned but also financially backed by Iran.
The Shin Bet reveals it uncovered an #Iranian plot to carry out terrorist attacks in #Israel, including targeted attacks against Ben-Gvir and former MK Yehuda Glick. 5 suspects were arrested, including two Israeli citizens and 3 Palestinians from the West Bank. pic.twitter.com/um9sGEvw2s
ā Tzvi Joffre (@TzviJoffre) September 27, 2023
As the plot unfolded, Kamamaja reached out to Hassan Mujirim from Jenin, briefing him on the nefarious scheme. Mujirim, in turn, proposed involving Ziad Shanti, a 45-year-old resident of Jenin. Kamamaja disclosed that the Iranian agent was willing to offer substantial sums, amounting to tens of thousands of dollars, for each mission. Shanti, for his part, suggested a location for smuggling weapons from Jordan, near the Sea of Galilee, and requested a 40% commission from the proceeds of each weapon sale. However, he later realized that the proposed location was under strict military surveillance, rendering the smuggling operation unfeasible.
During their conversations, Shanti presented a photograph of Glick to the group, accompanying it with a hand gesture resembling a firearm. He inquired if anyone was willing to carry out the assassination, highlighting that Zakharna was prepared to offer a reward of at least half a million dollars. Strikingly, Shanti declined to partake in this sinister endeavor.
The only executed action from this elaborate plan was the arson of vehicles in Haifa, where three vehicles were set ablaze. Two Israeli citizens from the northern part of the country, Hamad Hamadi (23) from Nazareth and Yosef Hamad (18) from Mokibla, were implicated in the incident after agreeing to a payment of $5,000. However, Zakharna, the Iranian mastermind, refused to reimburse the individuals despite receiving documented evidence, asserting that the provided videos were fabricated.
š“#BREAKING: Shin Beit thwarted Iranian attack against minister Ben Gvir in Israel
ā i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) September 27, 2023
i24NEWS Middle East Correspondent @ariel_oseran joins @ariel_margalith live in studio to break down this breaking news pic.twitter.com/CjVYEdBvx4
In one of their meetings, Kamamaja suggested to Shanti the idea of photographing Glick, providing various addresses in Israel. A friend of Shanti was present during this discussion and, although he declined the task of photographing Glick, he offered to capture Minister Ben Gvir as an alternative. He explained that his mother worked near the minister's vicinity, making it more feasible for him. The proposed compensation for photographing Glick and Ben Gvir was set at $40,000. However, in the end, the same friend conceded that capturing Ben Gvir was unattainable due to heightened security measures. Consequently, neither Glick nor Ben Gvir were photographed, and the Iranian agent's efforts to sow discord in Israel and assassinate prominent public figures were thwarted due to the lack of execution by the Palestinian individuals involved.
