Police mum on reported arrest of 2 Israelis suspected of trade with Iran

Greek newspaper reports two Israeli men from Bnei Brak tried to sell parts to the Islamic Republic through their company.

By BEN HARTMAN
Turkish F-15 jet fighter 311 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Turkish F-15 jet fighter 311
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Israel Police said Thursday, they are not involved in a case involving two Israeli men who are suspected of trying to sell spare parts from F-4 Phantom fighter jets to Iran.
“At this point LAHAV 433 has not made any arrests in this case. We are familiar with the case and will not give details about the role of Israel Police in cases handled by law enforcement authorities abroad,” the National Police Headquarters said.
Attempts to receive further details from police were rebuffed.
A Greek newspaper reported this week that two Israeli men, Eli Cohen and his brother-in-law Avichai Weinstein, both Haredi men from Bnei Brak, tried to sell parts to the Islamic Republic through their company R.S.P. (Rebuilt Spare Parts).
The Greek press reported that the American and Greek investigators had discovered the brothers’ operation and found shipping containers with parts that had been sent from Binyamina to Iran, by way of a Greek company.
The two brothers were the subjects of a previous investigation over a decade ago when, in 2002, a shipment of parts for armored personnel carriers was seized in the Hamburg port – with its final destination listed as Thailand.
Authorities later determined that the shipment was destined for Iran, and that the owners of the company, Cohen and Weinstein, had arranged the shipment.
In 2004, police raided a warehouse belonging to the two men that contained military equipment, which was also believed to be intended for shipment to Iran.