Israeli Security Forces Enlist Senior Haredi Rabbis to Combat Iranian Espionage Recruitment
In recent years, Israel has faced a growing challenge from Iranian intelligence attempting to recruit Israeli citizens for espionage and sabotage via social media platforms. Dozens of indictments have been filed against suspects from diverse sectors, including soldiers, Haredim, new immigrants, and Arabs. To counter this threat, Israeli security agencies have taken the unusual step of enlisting senior Haredi rabbis and influential community figures to warn the public about Iranian recruitment efforts.
One prominent figure involved is Rabbi Yigal Cohen, a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council with a significant social media presence. Following security briefings about Iranian attempts to recruit Israelis, Rabbi Cohen released a video urging the public not to respond to Iranian agents, emphasizing that such collaboration constitutes serious betrayal punishable by imprisonment and life destruction.
Iranian operatives typically begin by offering money for simple tasks such as photographing buildings or streets, escalating to gathering intelligence on national infrastructure, military bases, defense systems, and other sensitive targets. Most communications occur via the Telegram app using fake identities. Among the accused are active and reserve IDF soldiers, Jewish and Arab civilians, immigrants from former Soviet states, and at least nine Haredim.
Notable cases include an American citizen who studied in a Jerusalem yeshiva and was arrested for photographing sensitive sites for an Iranian handler, and an IDF soldier sentenced to five years for passing missile interception data to Iran during hostilities. Another unusual case involves a Haredi computer science student from Beitar Illit who impersonated an 8200 intelligence officer, used AI to forge military documents, and provided false information to Iranian agents, allegedly receiving about 100,000 shekels in cryptocurrency. His defense claimed they deceived the Iranians rather than aiding them, but police stress that any contact with enemy agents is a serious security offense.
Alongside law enforcement actions, Israel runs extensive public awareness campaigns. Rabbis, media personalities, and Haredi influencers have been called upon to disseminate warnings about Iranian approaches. The security establishment views raising public awareness as a key tool to reduce recruitment attempts, which continue regularly.
