Jerusalem Man Indicted for Contacting Foreign Agent, Espionage

Israel's State Prosecutor's Office has filed a serious indictment against Tarek Oweida, a 53-year-old resident of Jerusalem, for alleged contact with a foreign agent. Oweida is accused of communicating for approximately one year with an individual acting on behalf of a foreign state or terror organization, who tasked him with photographing and gathering intelligence in Jerusalem. The prosecution has requested that Oweida be held in custody until the legal proceedings conclude.

According to the indictment, filed by attorney Hadar Rubinstein of the Jerusalem District Prosecutor's Office, Oweida joined a Telegram group called "The Resistance" about a year ago, where he began communicating with the foreign agent. They corresponded roughly every two weeks. The agent allegedly offered Oweida money to photograph various locations in Jerusalem, including Jewish residential neighborhoods and security force positions.

Oweida reportedly downloaded a secure, encrypted messaging application at the agent's request. The agent later inquired if Oweida could install a camera on his electric bicycle to conduct surveillance discreetly during his travels. Oweida mentioned being in the vicinity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. On another occasion, he agreed to the agent's request to install a camera on his bicycle and photograph a mosque, but did not carry out the task.

Shortly before his arrest, the agent contacted Oweida again, asking him to photograph the Al-Aqsa Mosque area or other locations that could be useful. Oweida did not respond to this final request and did not perform the mission. The indictment charges Oweida with the offense of contact with a foreign agent.