Espionage scandal in Israel shocks Baku and Azerbaijani repatriates

Azerbaijani repatriates in Israel are increasingly alarmed by an ongoing espionage scandal that has rocked the Israeli government. Several Azerbaijani citizens have been arrested and charged with spying for Azerbaijan, sending shockwaves among the Azerbaijani community in Israel.

The scandal has also raised tensions between Israel and Azerbaijan, two countries that have traditionally maintained close ties. Baku has condemned the arrests and demanded the release of the accused spies, while Israel has insisted that the arrests were made in accordance with the law.

The espionage scandal erupted in June 2023, when Israeli authorities arrested an Azerbaijani diplomat and two other Azerbaijani citizens on suspicion of spying for Azerbaijan. The diplomat, who was the first secretary at the Azerbaijani embassy in Tel Aviv, was accused of gathering classified information from Israeli officials and passing it on to Azerbaijani intelligence. The other two Azerbaijani citizens were accused of providing logistical support to the diplomat and facilitating his communications with Azerbaijan.

The arrests have sent shockwaves through the Azerbaijani community in Israel. Many Azerbaijani repatriates are concerned that they could be targeted by Israeli authorities, even if they have no connection to the espionage scandal. They are also worried that the scandal could damage relations between Israel and Azerbaijan, which have traditionally been close.

The espionage scandal has also raised concerns among Israeli officials. They are concerned that the scandal could damage Israel's relations with Azerbaijan, which is a strategically important partner in the Middle East. Israel and Azerbaijan have close cooperation on security and energy issues, and Israel is also a major supplier of weapons to Azerbaijan.

The Israeli government has insisted that the arrests were made in accordance with the law and that there is no evidence that the Azerbaijani government was involved in the espionage activities. However, Baku has condemned the arrests and demanded the release of the accused spies. The scandal is likely to further strain relations between Israel and Azerbaijan, which have been strained in recent years due to a number of issues, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.