Israeli War minister’s housekeeper charged with spying for Iran

The Israeli occupation government has charged the Israeli War Minister’s housekeeper with espionage, a crime that carries a sentence of 10 to 15 years, for offering to spy for hackers reportedly linked to Iran.

The man, identified as Omri Goren, reportedly has a criminal record but worked at Benny Gantz’s home as a cleaner and caretaker.

Israel’s internal intelligence agency, Shin Bet, which announced the arrest of Goren, said it was reviewing its vetting procedures.

According to the Shin Bet and the indictment, Goren saw reports in the Israeli media about a hacker group called “Black Shadow”.

He looked up the group and used the Telegram app to contact one of its agents, presenting himself as someone who worked for Gantz.

Goren demonstrated his access to the war minister by sending photographs of various items in Gantz’s home, including his computer.

The occupation government said Goren, also identified in the indictment under the name Gorochovsky, discussed infecting Gantz’s computer with malware but was arrested before any plans were carried out.

He had no access to classified material, it said.

According to Israeli reports, he did not undergo a security review before working for Gantz.

Israeli media reported that the 37-year-old suspect was found guilty of crimes five times from 2002 to 2013, including two convictions for bank robbery and others for theft and breaking and entering. Goren has served four prison sentences, his most recent stretch being four years.

Goren’s public defender, Gal Wolf, was quoted in news reports as saying the suspect was desperate for money and had no intention of damaging national security.

Wolf so told The Times of Israel that his client “was not exposed to any security-related materials” while working in Gantz’s home — reiterating the Shin Bet security service’s claim.

According to the Shin Bet, Goren reached out earlier this month to “a figure affiliated with Iran and offered to help him in different ways, in light of his access to the minister’s home.”