JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered legal proceedings to begin revoking the citizenship of Israelis convicted of espionage for Iran, marking the first use of a legal provision that allows for such action, officials said Thursday.

The directive, issued with the backing of Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, applies to all Israeli citizens convicted of serious espionage offenses, including Jewish citizens, officials said. Until now, the provision under Israel’s Citizenship Law had primarily been considered for Arab Israelis involved in terrorism.

Netanyahu described acts of espionage against Israel as a “fundamental breach of trust” and instructed authorities to pursue citizenship revocation once legal proceedings are complete and convictions are finalized.

The law allows those stripped of citizenship to retain permanent residency, so individuals without another nationality may still live in Israel. The move, however, carries symbolic weight, affecting voting rights and public status.

Over the past two years, roughly 60 people have been charged with spying for Iran. Most are ordinary citizens with no prior criminal records. Last week, two 20-year-old brothers from Jerusalem were indicted for allegedly passing security information to Iranian operatives for payment.

Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, warned that Iranian recruitment efforts are increasing, highlighting the growing risk posed by espionage within the country.