Iranian Agents Posed as Far-Right Group to Recruit Israelis

Iranian intelligence agents operated a far-right Telegram group named "Bnei Eretz" (Sons of the Land) to sow chaos within Israeli society and recruit potential Israeli agents. The group disseminated extremist messages targeting leftists, Arabs, opposition figures, and even the military and judicial system. Slogans included calls for "transfer" of Arabs and personal attacks on opposition members.

One individual, Assaf Aryeh, was recruited by an operative who identified himself as "Avi," a right-wing activist. Initially tasked with distributing flyers, Aryeh soon expressed readiness for more serious missions, including stabbing or arson. He was then instructed to photograph the home of former Knesset member Mossi Raz, with the explanation that action needed to be taken against him as a leftist.

After photographing Raz's home, Aryeh was asked to target former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, with "Avi" citing Bar's alleged negative comments about "hilltop youth" and preference for Arabs over Jews. Aryeh began to suspect the group's true nature when the targets shifted from leftists to high-profile security officials.

Suspicious, Aryeh deleted his conversations with "Avi" and destroyed the phone used for communication. He is not facing security offense charges but is accused of conspiracy to commit a crime and obstruction of justice. The operation highlights Iran's ongoing efforts to destabilize Israel, with the group exhibiting a basic use of AI, suggesting potential for more sophisticated future tactics.