Shin Bet Issues Rare Warning After Iran Recruits Israelis Inside Israel

The Shin Bet issued a rare and unusually severe nationwide warning on Thursday, cautioning that Iranian intelligence efforts are increasingly penetrating Israel from within, often with the active participation of Israeli citizens themselves.

According to the Shin Bet’s assessment, security authorities have identified a disturbing pattern in which Israelis are initiating contact with Iranian handlers and offering to work for them in exchange for payment. Officials say the phenomenon has intensified even with heightened tensions with Iran and has already caused tangible security and reputational damage to Israel.

The warning marks a shift in how Israeli security officials view Iranian espionage efforts. Rather than isolated recruitment attempts or failed outreach, officials say Iran has succeeded in building operational networks inside Israel by exploiting financial distress, anonymity, and low barriers to entry.

Security sources say Iranian intelligence operatives have shown a preference for recruiting Israeli Jews, with successful cases recorded across multiple sectors and communities. Recruitment is typically carried out through encrypted platforms such as Telegram, often beginning with what appear to be legitimate job offers. Tasks are gradually escalated, and payments are transferred in cash or digital currencies.

Officials stress that ideology is rarely a motivating factor. Instead, most suspects cite money, debt, or personal financial hardship as the primary reason for agreeing to cooperate.

The severity of the warning was underscored by a recent military case that investigators describe as a significant escalation. Only weeks ago, an indictment was filed against a serving IDF combat soldier who enlisted just over a year ago. According to the charges, the soldier maintained contact with Iranian intelligence operatives beginning in July 2025 and carried out multiple security-related tasks in return for payment.

Investigators say the soldier transmitted photographs and videos of sensitive locations in Israel, including from within IDF bases, and provided information about weapons systems, types of arms, and ammunition in use. He was arrested in late September following a joint operation by the Shin Bet and military investigators. The case remains ongoing.

Alongside the military investigation, authorities have also pointed to a growing number of civilian cases that illustrate how easily Iranian handlers can recruit Israelis with no prior intelligence background.

In one recent indictment, a resident of Rishon LeZion was charged with photographing the home of former prime minister Naftali Bennett in exchange for payment from a foreign agent. During questioning, the suspect told investigators that he initially believed he was working for criminal elements and only realized the implications after noticing security personnel at the site. “I did it for money,” he said, adding that the recruitment began through Telegram job postings.

Another case cited by prosecutors involves 21-year-old Elimelech Stern of Beit Shemesh, who was sentenced on Thursday to three years in prison, a suspended sentence, and a 10,000-shekel fine after being convicted of contact with a foreign agent and conspiracy to issue threats. According to the indictment, Stern communicated via Telegram with a handler using the alias “Anna” or “ANNA ELENA” and carried out a series of tasks across Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, including posting inflammatory notices, transferring packages, and moving funds in public spaces. Payments were made in cryptocurrency.

The court found that Stern harbored suspicions early on that he was dealing with a foreign intelligence operative but chose to ignore them as the assignments became increasingly overt in their security implications.

Prosecutors told the court that Stern’s case is part of a much broader trend. Since his indictment, more than thirty additional indictments have been filed in similar Iranian-linked espionage cases, involving dozens of suspects nationwide. Officials warned that the growing frequency of such cases indicates that existing deterrence measures have not been sufficient.

In its ruling, the Jerusalem District Court emphasized the need for general deterrence, citing the potential damage inherent in offenses involving contact with hostile foreign intelligence services. While taking Stern’s personal circumstances into account, the court noted the wider danger posed by hostile activity carried out “from within” Israeli society itself.

The Shin Bet warning makes clear that Israeli security agencies view Iranian recruitment efforts as an ongoing and expanding internal threat. Officials say investigations are continuing nationwide and urged heightened public awareness, stressing that seemingly minor paid tasks can quickly escalate into serious security offenses.