An indictment was filed against a 23-year-old from Tiberias for carrying out tasks for Iranian foreign agents for cash compensation, the State Attorney’s office announced on Sunday.
The Southern District Attorney’s Office filed the indictment in the Be’er Sheva District Court against Yosef Ein Eli, stating that the defendant was contacted in 2024 via Telegram and paid 12,000 shekels to carry out tasks for a foreign agent who referred to himself as “Career Path.”
Ein Eli and the foreign agent exchanged text messages before eventually losing contact. In July 2025, Ein Eli reached out to the agent again and asked to work with him, leading to months of maintaining a relationship with foreign operatives via Telegram on behalf of an Iranian intelligence agency and a terrorist organization, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
During his campaigns, Eli posed as various people. Notably, he posed as an IDF soldier serving near Dimona. According to the State Attorney’s office, the defendant did not initially know he was cooperating with Iranian and/or terrorist agents, yet continued to work with them after learning so. He continued to cooperate for financial gain, the statement said.
Missions included filming sites around Israel
His missions included, but were not limited to, filming various sites nationwide, including hotels in the Dead Sea area where he worked, hotel lobbies, and views toward Jordan, following the agents’ instructions. In one case, he was instructed to walk along a marked trail in the Dead Sea area and film the route, which he completed after several attempts. He also sent additional videos and photos, hoping for additional payment. He also filmed hotel activities with guests in frame, participating in events.
Shortly before his arrest, Ein Eli was asked by one of the agents to document all events at the hotel where he worked, and he complied, sending detailed reports and photos. Though some reports were allegedly false, he did share other true information, including changes to the hotel’s security routine.
He also shared personal information of other hotel employees for recruitment, sending at least 10 contacts, presented as soldiers.
Ein Eli was also reportedly asked if he knew of any arms dealers from whom weapons could be purchased, and replied with weapon videos he found on Telegram — due to their inauthenticity, he was refused payment.
In its request to detain the defendant until the end of proceedings, the State Attorney’s Office noted that Ein Eli knowingly operated with hostile elements while Israel was at war on multiple fronts, including against Iran, and chose to cooperate despite knowing the security risks.
Ein Eli has been charged with contact with a foreign agent and transmission of information to help enemy forces.