Iran sought intel on Israeli National Security Minister

Israeli man arrested for spying on behalf of Iran, which directed him to monitor National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, pass on information regarding IDF soldiers, and carry out a grenade attack.

By World Israel News Staff

An Israeli man was indicted on Sunday on espionage charges over his alleged work on behalf of the Iranian government, including spying on tourist hotspots in southern Israel.

In September, police officers from the Lahav 433 national crime unit’s International Crime Investigations Division, working in conjunction with the Shin Bet security agency, arrested Yosef Ein-Eli, a 23-year-old resident of the northern Israeli city of Tiberias.

According to the indictment filed against him in the Beersheba District Court Sunday morning, Ein-Eli was in contact with Iranian intelligence operatives beginning in late 2024, when he was recruited to carry out intel-gathering missions in exchange for digital payments.

An employee of a hotel in the Dead Sea area, Ein-Eli took advantage of his position to collect information and footage of hotels in the area, along with other tourist hotspots in southern Israel.

In some cases, however, Ein-Eli declined to carry out instructions he received from his Iranian handlers.

For instance, he refused to carry out a grenade attack, to set fire to vehicles, or to spy on mafia figures in Israel.

In addition, Ein-Eli was tasked with monitoring National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, spying on IDF soldiers, and photographing Israeli military bases. In all of these instances, he refused to comply.

Ein-Eli’s Iranian handlers also pushed him to recruit additional spies in order to create an “operatives team” for additional missions; a request Ein-Eli declined.

Authorities announced Ein-Eli’s arrest last month, without revealing his identity or details regarding his case.

“The Israel Police and the Shin Bet once again warn Israeli citizens and residents against maintaining any contact with foreign entities from enemy states or unidentified parties — and especially against carrying out missions for them in exchange for payment,” the police department and Shin Bet said Sunday in a joint statement.

EspionageIranian spyItamar Ben-Gvir