JERUSALEM: A former Israeli government minister went on trial on Thursday on charges of spying for arch-foe Iran in a case which has been kept under tight wraps on security grounds.
Gonen Segev, who served as energy and infrastructure minister from 1995 to 1996, is charged with “espionage against the state of Israel, assisting the enemy in time of war and passing information with the intention of harming state security.”
Journalists were excluded from the hearing, which was held behind closed doors at Jerusalem district court, an AFP correspondent reported. Most of the detailed charge sheet has been redacted in its published version.
The brief hearing saw the charges read out to Segev, lawyers said, and the case was adjourned until September, without a precise date set.
Prosecutor Geula Cohen stressed to journalists outside the court the “seriousness of this case implicating a former minister accused of spying on behalf of Israel’s main enemy.”
Segev’s defense lawyers have previously alleged that the few details made public so far have given a misleading impression.
Lawyer Moshe Mazor told journalists Thursday he could not discuss details due to the state-imposed censorship surrounding the case, but added that he hoped “this affair will regain its proper proportions by the end of the proceedings.”
Segev is accused of providing Iran with “information related to the energy market, security sites in Israel, buildings and officials in political and security bodies, and more” while he was living in Nigeria between 2012 and his arrest at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport in May this year.
He is accused of traveling to Iran to meet his minders.
Segev, who served in the Labour government of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin after defecting from the far right to cast the decisive vote in favor of the Oslo II agreement with the Palestinians, has previously served prison time on criminal charges.
In 2004 he was charged with trying to smuggle 30,000 ecstasy pills into Israel from the Netherlands, using a diplomatic passport with a falsified expiry date.
The following year he admitted the charges as part of a plea bargain agreement.
He has also been convicted of attempted credit card fraud.
Israel ex-minister goes on trial on charges of spying for Iran
Israel ex-minister goes on trial on charges of spying for Iran
US embassies across the Middle East close as Iran war escalates
- US citizens have been issued with safety alerts, advising them to leave where possible
As the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran intensifies, US embassies across the Middle East have shifted into emergency footing, issuing security alerts, suspending services and urging Americans to take immediate precautions.
In Saudi Arabia, the US Embassy in Riyadh closed after Iranian drones struck the compound, causing minor damage and a small fire. The mission cancelled both routine and emergency consular appointments and advised Americans in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran to shelter in place. Citizens were also told to avoid the embassy grounds until further notice as a precaution.
In Kuwait, the US Embassy in Kuwait City instructed personnel and Americans in the country to shelter indoors amid the continued threat of missile and drone activity. The embassy warned people not to approach the compound and advised residents to remain inside, avoid windows and monitor official alerts.
The US Embassy in Bahrain has also suspended normal operations. Security notices there urged individuals to seek shelter indoors and remain alert, warning that civilian locations could be at risk as regional tensions escalate.
In Qatar, home to the major American military installation at Al Udeid, the US Embassy issued similar guidance, telling Americans to shelter in place and prepare for potential disruptions. The alert emphasized staying in secure indoor locations and keeping essential supplies on hand.
In Jordan, the US Embassy warned that missiles, rockets or drones could enter Jordanian airspace as the conflict unfolds. Americans were encouraged to remain vigilant and be prepared to seek shelter if sirens or official warnings were issued.
In Israel, where hostilities are directly linked to the broader confrontation with Iran, the US Embassy advised Americans to review their personal security plans. It indicated that its ability to assist with departures could be limited under current conditions and urged citizens to closely follow official guidance.
Beyond individual country alerts, the US State Department has expanded its regional advisories, urging Americans in multiple Middle Eastern countries to consider departing due to the deteriorating security environment.
