Moti Maman in court. Photo: Ynet.
Moti Maman, a 73-year-old businessman from Ashkelon, was arrested on suspicion of working for Iranian intelligence. His arrest has been the subject of controversy, as he believes he is being persecuted for his political views. However, the allegations against him are serious, and his role in potentially dangerous plans casts doubt on the very essence of his claims of innocence. This was reported by Time Ukraine Israel, citing Israelinfo.
Maman is appealing, claiming that he is being held in conditions that violate his rights, including by restricting his ability to communicate with family and friends, and by deteriorating food conditions. According to him, he has lost 25 kilograms and the food he is served is labelled “Nuhba”, which he considers part of the psychological pressure. Maman claims that such conditions are created to break his morale.
Serious accusations: Spying for Iran
Moti Maman is accused of agreeing to carry out Iranian intelligence tasks, including organising an assassination attempt on the Israeli Prime Minister for a million dollars. He is also accused of twice illegally visiting Iran and negotiating with Iranian agents. During interrogations, he stated that he simply sought to make money, with no intention of harming Israel’s national security.
But even if he did not intend to cause direct harm, Maman’s actions point to a serious threat to the state. According to the law, even preparing for espionage is a criminal offence, and any attempt to carry out a foreign intelligence mission can have fatal consequences for the country’s security.
Persecution or justice?
Maman claims that he is being persecuted because of his political views – he is a right-wing Jew, and that is why he is being subjected to such brutal methods. However, it is difficult to deny that his actions in connection with Iranian agents directly endanger the security of the state. Therefore, whether his complaints about the conditions of his detention are true is a matter for the court to decide. It is important to note that even in the conditions he describes, there is a need to ensure law and order and security in prisons for those accused of national security offences.
