Spies

This week in Jewish history: Altalena, sin of the spies, Jews expelled from France

A highly abridged weekly version of Dust & Stars – Today in Jewish History.

BYSTANDERS WATCH as the ‘Altalena’ burns after being shelled near Tel Aviv on June 22, 1948
 An illustrative image of a grasshopper.

Parashat Shelach: Seeing giants, choosing hope

 The Grapes of Canaan by James Tissot (circa 1900). Although the 12 spies brought back a cluster of grapes so large that it took two men to carry it, only two of the 12 brought back a good report of the land.

Parashat Shelach: Believe in yourselves

 Iranians attend a gathering in support of Gaza, in Tehran, Iran April 9, 2025.

Easy cash, false identities, and dating scams: Iran's method of recruiting Israelis


Three alleged Iranian spies appear before British court for intent to target journalists

The Iranian nationals were alleged to have been targeting the opposition-aligned news outlet, "Iran International."

Police officers work as people gather outside the Old Bailey after British police officer Martyn Blake was acquitted of the 2022 murder of Chris Kaba, in London, Britain, October 21, 2024.

Shin Bet thwarts Iranian plot to use Israelis to spy on Defense Minister Katz

Both Israelis, from the town of Nesher, were lured in by Tehran due to millions in gambling debt and the promise to help pay off their debts.

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Ukraine arrests security official suspected of spying for Russia

The Ukrainian Security Service arrested a senior official after they recorded 14 instances of him transmitting information to Russia.

 Ukranian police stand guard behind a security fence surrounding Independence Square in Kyiv.

Russian agents accused of spying for Moscow, targeting journalists, dissidents

UK trial reveals Russian spy ring targeting journalists, dissidents, and military sites with tech and fake identities.

 The Old Bailey is seen, ahead of the arrival of Ali Harbi Ali, 25, suspect in the murder of British MP David Amess, who is due to appear in court, in London, Britain, October 22, 2021.

Joint intelligence operation uncovers Israeli agents for Iran, including attempted assassin

An indictment was also filed against a Bnei Brak resident who was accused of following an Israeli nuclear scientist at the direction of Iranian agents.

 The silhouette of a man, seen over the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran (illustrative)

Seven Israelis arrested for spying for Iran, providing info on army bases

Prosecutors allege they completed some 600 missions for Iran, including gathering intelligence on sensitive military and infrastructure sites and identifying potential human targets for Iran.

  The Iranian flag flutters outside the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters in Vienna, Austria, March 6, 2023.

From Ashkelon to Tehran: How Iran works to recruit agents in the heart of Israel

The arrest of 73-year-old Motti Maman from Ashkelon for allegedly spying for Iran, including planning attacks in Israel, was revealed following a joint Shin Bet and police operation.

Ashkelon resident Moti Maman arrested in August on suspicion of working with Iranian intelligence.

Hezbollah tearing itself apart looking for internal leak that led to Shukr's elimination - report

Hezbollah has arrested some of its own members in search for how Israel found the location of its commander.

 Members of Hezbollah stand in front of an image of Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander who was killed by an Israeli strike on Tuesday, during his funeral in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon August 1, 2024.

New spy bill in Turkey raises fears of greater limits on dissent

Turkey's new spy bill, compared to Russia's, may limit journalists and civil society, sparking fears of further curbing freedom of expression.

  Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters ahead of the local elections in Istanbul, Turkey, March 29, 2024.

Iranian media falsely claims to have ‘injured’ Israeli in Iraq attacks

Iranian media uses antisemitic tropes of an image of a rabbi to claim that a Kurdish businessman was linked to ‘Mossad.’

 Members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attend an IRGC ground forces military drill in the Aras area, East Azerbaijan province, Iran, October 17, 2022.

UK's MI6 spy tells Russians: join us as agents to end war

"Our door is always open ... Their secrets will be safe with us and together we will work to bring the bloodshed to an end."

 A woman holds a copy of The History of the Secret Intelligence Service for photographs at its launch at the Foreign Office in central London, September 21, 2010.