A member of the vehemently anti-Zionist haredi Naturei Karta sect has pleaded guilty to spying for Iran and will serve 4 1/2 years in prison.
Haredi Who Spied For Iran Gets 4 1/2 Years in Prison
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
A member of the vehemently anti-Zionist haredi Naturei Karta sect has pleaded guilty to spying for Iran and will serve 4 1/2 years in prison, the Jerusalem Post reported.
47-year-old Yitzhak Bergil was arrested in July and indicted in August. He later pleaded guilty to intent to commit treason and contacting a foreign agent.
Bergil’s level of spying is considered to be relatively low, and his sentence is reportedly equal to or slightly larger to similar cases of low-level spying in the past.
Bergil allegedly told the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, during questioning the he spied for Iran “out of a hatred for the State of Israel and in exchange for financial compensation.”
Since Bergil’s arrest was made public last year, haredi media has reported claims made by haredi community members that Bergil is mentally unstable.