In its statement, the Israeli security agency also said that “it became clear, during the… investigation, that Iranian intelligence used South Africa as a significant arena for locating, recruiting and running anti-Israel agents in the West Bank.”
Tensions between Israel and South Africa are running high after the ruling African National Congress announced it would downgrading its Tel Aviv embassy to a liaison office “in order to give our practical expression to the oppressed people of Palestine”.
The Shin Bet did not make it clear whether they suspected South African knowledge of Iranian operations in their country.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that the Shin Bet “exposed and foiled a terrorist network in Judea and Samaria that operated under the aegis of Iranian intelligence.
He continued: “Iran is using terrorism against the State of Israel not only with the assistance of terrorist movements such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad, but is also attempting to organize terrorist actions inside the State of Israel and against the citizens of Israel.”
A lawyer for the three men said that they denied the charges against them.
