A joint investigation by Israel’s Lahav 433 unit and the Shin Bet exposed an Iranian effort to build an intelligence collection network inside Israel. Yosef Ein Eli, a 23-year-old resident of Tiberias, was arrested after maintaining contact with Iranian intelligence handlers who tasked him with gathering information for money – including on National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his Jerusalem office.
Iranian Intelligence in Jerusalem
According to the investigation, Ein Eli maintained continuous contact with his handlers since late 2024, sending them photos and details from hotels and tourist sites near the Dead Sea, where he worked. He was later instructed to prepare additional missions – collecting data on public figures, photographing IDF bases, and even forming a “team of operatives” inside Israel. Some of the missions were not carried out but still constitute severe security offenses.
Security officials from the Shin Bet and Lahav 433 described a payment mechanism based on digital currencies, intended to obscure the connection between the suspect and his Iranian handlers. Documents, computer equipment, and correspondence found during the operation illustrate the depth of the infiltration attempt and its potential security impact on Israel’s National Security Ministry and government institutions in Jerusalem.
Indictment Against Iranian Agent in Jerusalem
On Sunday, prosecutors filed an indictment with the Beersheba District Court charging Ein Eli with contact with a foreign agent, transferring information to the enemy, and receiving funds from a hostile entity. Police and national security officials said the case highlights Iran’s ongoing attempts to exploit vulnerable citizens for intelligence gathering within Israel – including in Jerusalem, where the National Security Ministry and other sensitive government offices are located.
“The Israel Police and the Shin Bet warn citizens against any contact with hostile entities or unknown sources, even when financial rewards are offered. Such cooperation constitutes a serious criminal offense,” the agencies said in a joint statement.
