Shin Bet Summons Protest Activist for Warning on Wedding Day

The Shin Bet security agency summoned Ofer Koren, a 35-year-old protest activist from Jerusalem, for a warning conversation on his wedding day, Thursday. The summons followed Koren's posting two weeks prior on a WhatsApp group for the "Changing Direction" organization that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not at his residence. Koren received the call from the Shin Bet during preparations for his wedding, which took place that evening in Ein Kerem. A Shin Bet operative, identified only as "Mark," insisted on an immediate meeting. Koren explained he was getting married, but the operative stressed the urgency, requesting he arrive within half an hour. He met the Shin Bet agent and a police intelligence officer at the Harel police station in Jerusalem. The Shin Bet agent discussed Koren's WhatsApp messages, which informed fellow activists about Netanyahu's absence from his home, based on Koren's observation of security preparations for the Prime Minister's arrival elsewhere. The agent stated that Koren had transmitted live location information about the Prime Minister, which could potentially reach individuals intending to harm him, and sought to understand Koren's motive. The Shin Bet representative told Koren that reporting the Prime Minister's movements was forbidden, even if not a criminal offense. Koren countered that his group's principles include non-violence and that his intention was not to harm Netanyahu. The agent concluded by saying he would report that Koren was not a dangerous individual and that the matter was closed. Koren managed to attend his wedding and later reflected that the encounter felt like an attempt by the Shin Bet to intimidate activists opposing the government, emphasizing the importance of upcoming elections. The Shin Bet has not yet responded to requests for comment.