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Israeli Man Arrested for Plotting Assassination for Iran

4/9/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Ami Gaidarov, a 22-year-old resident of Haifa, was arrested in March 2026 for allegedly plotting to assassinate former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on behalf of Iranian intelligence.
Gaidarov had been in contact with an Iranian handler since August 2025 and converted a rented apartment into a lab for manufacturing explosives, specifically TATP.
He received over NIS 70,000 for his activities and gathered intelligence on strategic locations in Haifa.
Several accomplices, including Sergey Libman and Eduard Shovtiuk, face charges for aiding him.
This incident underscores a rising trend of Iranian espionage in Israel, involving the recruitment of ordinary citizens for dangerous tasks.

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Story summary

Ami Gaidarov, a 22-year-old resident of Haifa, was arrested in March 2026 for allegedly plotting to assassinate former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on behalf of Iranian intelligence.
Gaidarov had been in contact with an Iranian handler since August 2025 and converted a rented apartment into a lab for manufacturing explosives, specifically TATP.
He received over NIS 70,000 for his activities and gathered intelligence on strategic locations in Haifa.
Several accomplices, including Sergey Libman and Eduard Shovtiuk, face charges for aiding him.
This incident underscores a rising trend of Iranian espionage in Israel, involving the recruitment of ordinary citizens for dangerous tasks.