Israeli Ex-Soldier Indicted for Espionage on Behalf of Iran

The Israeli Attorney General's Office has indicted an Israeli citizen who served in both regular and reserve capacities in a classified military unit, accusing him of espionage for Iran. The indictment, filed on July 16 at the Tel Aviv District Court, was initially under a gag order, which was partially lifted on Wednesday to allow limited publication of details. A joint investigation by the Israel Police's National Fraud Unit, the Ministry of Defense's Intelligence and Investigations Division, and the Shin Bet revealed that the suspect maintained contact with an individual claiming to be an Iranian intelligence agent. He was allegedly asked to recruit a soldier to facilitate further contact with Iranian operatives. The suspect faces charges of contact with a foreign agent and attempting to pass information to the enemy. The identities of the accused, other involved parties, and specifics about the classified unit and the information attempted to be transmitted remain confidential under the gag order.

Following the case, Israeli security agencies including the Shin Bet, Ministry of Defense, IDF, and Israel Police have warned citizens against engaging with foreign agents from hostile countries or unknown individuals, emphasizing that such contacts may constitute criminal offenses. Authorities urged the public to report any suspicious interactions to law enforcement. They highlighted ongoing efforts by hostile intelligence and terrorist entities to recruit Israelis for espionage, terrorism, and hostile activities, often via social media outreach. The case is being handled by State Attorney Irina Inberg from the Cyber Department and will proceed under the existing publication restrictions at the Tel Aviv District Court.