Israeli authorities have intensified efforts to combat Iranian intelligence recruitment attempts targeting individuals within Israel, including members of the ultra-Orthodox community, soldiers, and civilians. This push has involved enlisting prominent rabbis to warn their congregations against cooperating with Iranian agents amid a growing wave of online espionage recruitment.
Rabbi Yigal Cohen, a respected member of Israel’s chief rabbinical council, released a widely circulated video urging observant Jews to reject Iranian overtures. According to Rabbi Cohen, Israeli security officials approached him for help in delivering the message that Iranian operatives have been actively recruiting Israelis to gather intelligence, photograph sensitive sites, acquire weapons, and in some cases carry out lethal actions. “There is no greater blasphemy than seeing a Torah-abiding, observant Jew betray his people,” the rabbi said. He cautioned that individuals caught aiding Iran would face jail sentences and lifelong consequences.
Israeli police and prosecutors have pursued more than 60 espionage cases in recent months, involving suspects from a broad spectrum of Israeli society. These include immigrants from the former Soviet Union, current and former soldiers, Arabs, and members of the Haredi community, which traditionally abstains from military service but whose members increasingly use smartphones with internet access. Authorities report that Iranian agents primarily use the Telegram messaging app to reach out, often offering relatively low-risk tasks in exchange for money, such as photographing local areas or neighborhoods, before escalating to more sensitive assignments related to Israel’s critical infrastructure and defense systems.
Among recent arrests was a U.S. citizen studying in an ultra-Orthodox yeshiva in Jerusalem, accused of photographing sensitive sites for Iranian handlers. Another case involved a soldier sentenced to five years in prison for sending video footage of missile interceptions during the 2025 conflict. Other suspects include reserve soldiers who allegedly shared details about Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system, as well as conscripts with access to classified information about military aircraft and radar operations.
One notable incident involved a 24-year-old Haredi computer science student from Beitar Illit, Meir Nahum, who, with assistance from his brother and artificial intelligence tools, impersonated an officer from Israel’s elite Unit 8200 to deceive Iranian agents. Nahum falsely claimed Israeli involvement in the 2024 helicopter crash that killed Iran’s former president, Ebrahim Raisi, and fabricated military documents to support the claim. The brothers also provided the names of an Iranian civilian purportedly linked to Israeli attacks. Authorities allege the brothers received more than $35,000 in digital currency for these activities. Nahum’s defense lawyer acknowledged contact with Iranian agents but disputed claims that their actions endangered Israel, arguing instead that they extracted money in exchange for false information.
Israeli officials are taking these Iranian recruitment efforts seriously amid concerns over the broad and persistent campaign, which some characterize as a wide-scale fishing expedition relying on volume rather than sophistication. The ongoing spate of arrests and indictments reflects a strategic push by Iranian intelligence to exploit vulnerabilities within Israeli society since the October 2023 Hamas-led attack and Israel’s subsequent operations against Iran in mid-2025.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem declined to comment on specific cases, citing privacy concerns, while Iranian officials did not respond to requests for comment. Israeli security sources continue to emphasize the importance of public awareness and community cooperation in countering these espionage threats.