Bedouin Businessman Charged with Spying for Iran was also Involved in Incitement to Terrorism

Jerusalem, 13 July, 2021 (TPS) -- The Shin Bet announced on Monday that prominent Bedouin millionaire Yaakub Abu al-Qian has been charged with contacting a foreign agent and passing information to Iran.

The investigation revealed that Abu al-Qian, 46, who is close to public figures in Israel and who was a candidate to run on Moshe Yaalon’s Telem list in 2019, had a long-standing relationship with Hyder al-Mashhadani, who serves as a liaison for Iranian intelligence.

After his arrest, it became apparent that he was also involved in online incitement to violence against Jews.

On May 14, Muslim anti-Jewish riots broke out in several mixed cities across Israel, Abu al-Qian uploaded a now-deleted video to his Facebook page from the city of Lod calling to use violence in order to “defend the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

“The Al-Aqsa Mosque is a red line and we will cut off any hand that is raised against it,” exclaimed Abu al-Qian in front of a group of dozens of masked Arab men chanting “Allahu akbar.”

“The hudna (cease-fire) is only temporary and conditional,” continued Abu al-Qian, “and we are raising our head in this city and saying to everyone: you must always protect our holy places and our mosque.”

Abu al-Qian concluded his fiery speech, which was discovered by the Ad Kan organization and translated by the Arab Desk of the Zionist watchdog group Im Tirtzu, by chanting “with spirit and blood we will redeem Al-Aqsa.”

The Arab Desk of Im Tirtzu welcomed on Monday the indictment against Abu al-Qian, saying that “instead of promoting integration and peace, many leaders in the Arab community, unfortunately, see eye to eye with Hamas and act as a fifth column in Israel. This is a very severe phenomenon that needs to be dealt with immediately.”

Meir Deutsch, Director General of the Regavim, stated Monday that “the fact that Abu al-Qian, a millionaire with extensive property and business holdings who maintains close ties with leaders of Israel’s economy, passed sensitive security information to Iranian operatives proves that the rising tide of nationalism in Israel’s Bedouin sector is not connected to often-heard complaints of poverty or discrimination.”

“This very real and very serious developing trend is an expression of radical currents that are re-shaping the Bedouin community in the Negev. Israel is now paying the price for years of denial and wishful thinking. The government must face up to reality – and there’s not a moment to waste,” he said.