Spy or eccentric: four and a half years

Today (Tuesday) Jerusalem District Court sentenced four and a half years in prison in a plea bargain, the Neturei Karta man Yitzchak Bergel, who according to the indictment, had contacts with Iranian representatives in order to pass them information from Israel. He accused the items intercourse with a foreign agent and treason.

Bergel, 48 , was convicted by his own admission and as part of a plea bargain of contact with a foreign agent and the intention to cheat . The defendant admitted that he stabilized at the Iranian Embassy in Berlin where laid how to communicate with the embassy. Upon his return to Israel defendant made contact with the Iranian Embassy in Berlin using public telephones. Ultimately, no harm is done to the state.

"In these circumstances, I accept the plea bargain," said Judge Amnon Cohen. "Considering that, I question the defendant in prison for a period of 54 months commencing from detention, that is, from 07/17/13."

The judge also imposed probation for three years, however, he will not carry this penalty unless he will contact with a foreign agent within a period of three years from the date of release for an offense of or disclosure intention to cheat and convicted.

The affair became known six months ago on 10th Av at 5 am, police arrived at the home of Neturei Karta Yitzchak Bergel, knocked on the door and arrested him the next day of his arrest was issued a gag order on the arrest. It was only after about two weeks, with the indictment, permission to publish it.
It was published that the defendant had contacts with Iranian representatives in order to pass them information. He was accused of having contact with a foreign agent and treason.

A few weeks before the arrest Bergel told someone he will soon earn money. Resident of the neighborhood told B'Chadrei Charedim "that the defendant worked as a messenger on a scooter with deliveries.

According to the indictment, in January 2011 the scholar flew from Israel to Berlin. Two days after his arrival, accused stood at the Iranian embassy, contact the clerk at the entrance and told him he was an Israeli who wants to talk to him. At the request of the clerk, the defendant gave him his passport while at the same time wearing a white shirt, black pants , wearing tzitzit and kippah .

The clerk instructed the defendant to enter the embassy, where he met the accused three people whose identity is unknown; one of them introduced himself as "Haji Baba". The defendant told the Iranians that he is a citizen and resident of Israel, who belongs to the fold of "Neturei Karta", and explained to them the concept that rejects the existence of Israel and his desire to replace the existing regime in power of "Gentiles" . The defendant offered the Iranians to gather intelligence information for them in exchange for money.

During the conversation, defendant asked the Iranian how they could fail to keep their people in Iran from being assassinated by Israel. In response, one of the Iranians asked the defendant whether he was not ashamed to make fun of them while he is interested in seeking asylum. The defendant replied that he was not interested in seeking asylum, and that he is even ready to kill Zionists if required.
After the meeting, the Iranians told the defendant that they must conduct further investigation with the elements at the highest levels. "Haji Baba" gave the defendant a note with an email address and password, and instructed him to enter the mailbox name, wait for a message on behalf of the Iranians. Further, the defendant will contact them by phone with the phone number of the Embassy.

In -20.1.11 the accused returned to Israel. After returning to Israel, the defendant checked the email box several times at an Internet cafe in Jerusalem. Likewise, he called the embassy twice from pay phones. One case, there was no answer at the embassy. Latter case, the defendant asked to speak with "Haji Baba" , but said him that he is not found.

Attorney Yair Nehorai representing Bergel responded to B'Chadrei Charedim "," under the circumstances, we believe this is the best arrangement. "The lawyer adds that" We must remember that the punishment for an offense of contact with a foreign agent is 15 years in prison, while the offense of disclosure intention to betray 10 years. "

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!