Bedouin Teacher from the Negev Indicted for Espionage for Iran – Here’s What She Did
A 33-year-old Bedouin schoolteacher from an unrecognized Negev village has been charged with serious espionage offenses for allegedly aiding Iranian intelligence.
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A dramatic case unfolding in Israel's south has shaken the security establishment. A 33-year-old Israeli citizen and schoolteacher, Tahani Abu Samkhan, who lives in the unrecognized Bedouin village of Abu Quider in the Negev, has been formally charged with serious offenses of espionage for Iranian intelligence. According to Israeli authorities, her actions posed a grave threat to national security during an already volatile time.
The charges, brought by the Southern District Attorney’s Office, follow a months-long investigation led by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), Israel Police’s Southern District, and the National Guard. Authorities allege that Abu Samkhan maintained direct contact with Iranian intelligence operatives, knowingly acted under their direction, and used a special phone given to her for secret communications.
The indictment reveals that during Operation “Rising Lion”, she was instructed to film Israeli fighter jets taking off from the Nevatim Air Force Base, an act meant to expose details of the IDF's southern operations. Her goal, as alleged, was to provide intelligence to Iran that could undermine Israel’s military capabilities during a time of multi-front conflict, including direct tensions with Tehran.
Prosecutor Hila Drimer-Yair emphasized in court documents that Abu Samkhan’s actions occurred while Israel was at war, and that she acted with full awareness of her cooperation with an enemy state. The prosecution has requested her detention until the end of proceedings, citing the severity of the alleged crimes.
“The suspect was fully aware that her contact was with a foreign agent hostile to Israel,” Drimer-Yair wrote, adding that only the rapid actions of security forces stopped her from doing more damage.
The Shin Bet issued a statement highlighting that this case is part of a broader pattern of Iranian efforts to infiltrate Israeli society, using Israeli citizens for intelligence gathering, subversion, and potentially sabotage. Officials warned that similar attempts have occurred recently, and vowed to continue cracking down forcefully on anyone found collaborating with the enemy.
The prosecution concluded: “The State of Israel will act decisively against all forms of espionage and betrayal. Every individual who aids the enemy will be brought to justice.”