Since October 7, Iran has escalated its efforts to infiltrate Israeli society, adopting more aggressive tactics. The Iranian regime has discarded its covert approach, seeking to destabilize Israel by sowing chaos, fear, and panic within its borders.
These actions are also part of Iran's ongoing strategy to target political and security figures in retaliation for losses suffered on their side.
Before October 7, incidents involving Iran’s direct involvement in Israeli security matters were rare. However, since the outbreak of the war, Israeli security forces and the Israel Police have noted a significant increase in recruitment attempts by Iran, trying to turn Israeli citizens and residents against the state.
Shin Bet, police have thwarted 22 Iranian recruitment attempts
As of now, 22 thwarted cases have been cleared for publication by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the police, resulting in the arrest of 39 individuals. Legal proceedings have commenced for all those detained, except for the most recent suspect, who was arrested this week.
The first trial to conclude involved Moti Maman, who was convicted of contact with Iran and sentenced to 11 years in prison last week. Maman’s case was one of the earliest to be exposed. The charge he faced is considered less severe compared to other security-related offenses, as many of those currently on trial have been charged with aiding the enemy during wartime, a crime punishable by life imprisonment.
Additionally, the State Attorney's Office has issued a directive not to offer plea bargains to those involved in Iranian-related cases.
The efforts to thwart these security threats, including ongoing investigations and exposure activities, are continuing. At present, there are several cases under investigation that cannot be disclosed to the public. It is believed that there are still numerous cases of Iranian infiltration that have yet to be detected by the Shin Bet and the police.
Lieutenant Colonel Sarit Peretz, from Lahav 433’s security department, explains, “We understand that the scale is serious and significant. We are talking about large numbers. They are attempting to reach Israelis through various methods and recruit them via every possible platform.”
13-year-old boy arrested in Iranian recruitment plot
In a startling development this week, the Shin Bet and the Tel Aviv Police arrested a 13.5-year-old boy suspected of being involved in completing tasks for Iran.
His assignments included spraying anti-government graffiti in Tel Aviv and photographing strategic targets such as the Iron Dome system and the home of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. Instead of photographing Sa’ar’s home, he sent a Google Maps image and refused to carry out a later task, which involved setting fire to electrical cabinets.
He was arrested, questioned, and released to house arrest. The investigation file remains with the police, and while it has not yet been transferred to the prosecution, it is possible that due to the boy's young age, charges may be reduced. His parents were unaware of his activities until his arrest.
A security source told Walla, “We are witnessing an increase in attempts to recruit minors through social media. It is important for parents to stay vigilant, especially as the summer vacation approaches.”
Recruitment methods: Easy money, fake identities, and dating sites
The suspects arrested so far represent a wide range of demographics and age groups, from as young as 13.5 years to as old as 77. An interesting observation is that 93% of those arrested are men, with only three women involved. These women, however, are not considered the main instigators.
Lieutenant Colonel Peretz comments, “The common denominator among all the arrested suspects is the promise of easy money in exchange for their actions. These individuals are not desperate for food; they are people who live in Israel, enjoy their rights, and make a conscious decision to act against the state.”
Recruitment occurs through numerous platforms, ranging from Telegram to job search sites, pornography sites, and dating apps. The recruiters remain anonymous, and the "job interviews" take place online, not in person.
Payments are made through cryptocurrency, without official documentation, and the communication is often in broken Hebrew, translated via Google Translate. Police urge the public to be aware of the cover stories and tasks, which are typically unrelated to the recruiter’s stated intentions.
Initial tasks: From graffiti to espionage
The tasks recruits are asked to perform begin as simple acts of vandalism, such as spray-painting anti-government slogans, setting fire to cars, or damaging electrical cabinets. These activities are designed to build trust with the recruit, who is then lured into more dangerous and illegal actions.
Once trust is established, the recruit may be tasked with photographing the homes of senior political figures such as Israel Katz, Benny Gantz, or key security officials like Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.
More serious assignments may include photographing critical infrastructure, such as the Iron Dome or the Dimona nuclear research center, as well as carrying out espionage activities, including photographing security arrangements during visits to hospitals by senior politicians.
The police emphasize that even those who begin with minor tasks and later realize the danger but attempt to withdraw are still committing a crime. “Once they contact you, report it immediately to the police,” said a law enforcement source.