Israeli Man Sentenced to 3 Years for Offering Iran Information About Dimona Reactor

The Be’er Sheva District Court on Sunday sentenced Doron Buchovza, 30, a Be’er Sheva resident who contacted an Iranian agent and offered information about the Dimona reactor, to three years in prison. He was convicted of contact with a foreign agent, and the sentence was handed down as part of a plea deal.

According to the indictment, Buchovza, a former courthouse security guard, received a total of several thousand shekels from the Iranians in digital currency. Among the tasks he carried out were taking photos and videos, amplifying a post by Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and publishing social media posts in support of Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or, who was still being held hostage in Gaza at the time and whom he allegedly knew personally.

The defense submitted a probation service report to the court claiming that imposing an actual prison sentence would cause a regression in his mental state and significantly harm his self-image as a law-abiding citizen who respects the state.

Judge Dina Cohen decided to sentence him to three years in prison, noting that accepting the probation service’s recommendation would send a "weak message."

Buchovza was arrested in February 2025 by police and the Shin Bet after being suspected of committing "security offenses involving contact with intelligence officials from the Iranian regime." His investigation found that he had been in contact with Iranian intelligence officials for several months. Among other things, he presented himself to his handler as having access to the classified facility at the Nuclear Research Center.

He made contact with the Iranians through the Telegram app, approaching profiles featuring a picture of the Islamic Republic’s flag. It was alleged that in December 2024, Buchovza sent an agent a message in Hebrew: "I am Israeli and I want to work with you." When asked why, he replied, "Because of the government" and because of financial difficulties.