Petah Tikva man sentenced to over 13 years in prison for carrying out tasks for Iranian agent

Alexander Granovsky of Petah Tikva was sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison by the Central District Court in Lod for working for an Iranian agent. Granovsky pleaded guilty to charges including contact with a foreign agent, passing information to an enemy, and nine counts of arson. He communicated via Telegram from late November 2024 until his arrest on December 15, carrying out tasks such as spraying anti-Netanyahu slogans, setting vehicles on fire, and photographing locations like Benny Gantz's neighborhood and the Reading power station. Payments were sent to a digital wallet. The defense cited financial motivation, drug addiction, and mental health issues, with Granovsky expressing remorse and stating he "had not intended to harm state security." Judge Merav Grinberg approved the agreed sentence, noting that financial gain did not diminish the severity of his actions.