By Randa Darwish
Known as Shin Bet, the Israeli Security Agency announced earlier this week that a former cabinet minister was arrested on charges of spying for Iran. He was detained in Equatorial Guinea in May, and handed to Israel following a request by the police last month.
Gonen Segev had a criminal record after he served five years in jail in 2005 for smuggling drugs and forging a diplomatic passport. However, he was released in 2007 and went to Nigeria to serve as a physician before being recruited by the Iranian intelligence services while living in Nigeria and aiding the enemy during wartime, the Shin Bet said.
While the Shin Bet revealed that Segev gave Iranian handlers information on Israel’s energy sector, security sites and introduced Iranians to Israeli officials as businessmen, many Israelis expressed concerns over the the treasure trove of information Segev handed to Tehran on Israel.
According to Israel’s Channel 10, “disgraced” former minister has admitted his wrongdoing saying he wanted to help Israel and return as a “hero”.
“I wanted to fool the Iranians and come back to Israel a hero,” he was quoted as saying on Channel 10.
A hashtag-war broke out between Israelis and Iranians on social media platforms, with Israelis calling the government on to keep him in jail and punish him, as an example for all Israel’s enemies.
On the other hand, hashtags like חינם_גונן_שגב or “Free Gonen Segev” trending among Iranians defending Segev.
An Iranian account named Daniel tweeted:
Other Iranians beside few Israelis called to free him under the pretext that he is a father and he has children.
Some Twitter users shared fake news on massive protests inside Israel in support with Gonen Segev calling the “zionist” regime to release him.
Meanwhile, Palestinians and Arabs had their own share of the tweets as well.
Translation: “Hezbollah and Iran have infiltrated Israel for a long time, it is not a new thing. It is true that the penetration is another achievement added to the Iranian intelligence achievements and the security of the resistance, but remember, detecting any penetration is an achievement for the enemy, so don’t be proud of your enemy’s achievements. Gonen Segev is not the first nor the last.”
Some analysts considered Iran’s ability to have such a spy as a victory for the Iranian intelligence services.
Translation: “The recruitment of the former Israeli minister Gonen Segev demonstrates the power of Iranian intelligence, the importance of Iranian Jews in the Israeli Government, and the weakness of a state that they present as infallible.”
According to investigations made by the Shit Bet, Segev first contacted officials in the Iranian embassy in Nigeria in 2012 before visiting Iran twice. He had several meetings with Iranian officials in other countries.
Israel has always seen Iran as a threat to its existence. Hostility between both countries started following the Islamic Revolution in 1979. It was believed that Iranian leaders called to eliminate Israel as occupier to a Muslim land. However, Iran’s intervention in the Syrian conflict made Iran a power that seeks to expand its influence in the region.
