Israel charges Dead Sea hotel worker with spying for Iran
Israeli prosecutors on Sunday indicted a 23-year-old hotel worker from Tiberias on charges of spying for Iran, in the latest in a series of espionage cases tied to Iran over the past months.
Israeli prosecutors on Sunday indicted a 23-year-old hotel worker from Tiberias on charges of spying for Iran, in the latest in a series of espionage cases tied to Iran over the past months.
The man identified as Yosef Ein-Eli has been accused of sharing photos of tourist sites near the Dead Sea with Iranian agents and agreeing to collect intelligence on government officials and military personnel, authorities said on Sunday.
According to a joint statement from the Shin Bet and Israel Police, the suspect who worked at a hotel near the Dead Sea allegedly maintained contact with Iranian handlers since late 2024, sending them images of hotels and tourist areas in southern Israel in exchange for digital payments.
He allegedly received approximately 10,000 shekels (about $3,100), according to Ynet.
Investigators said the agents also asked Ein-Eli to gather information about National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, organized crime groups and IDF soldiers, though he reportedly did not complete those tasks.
They also allegedly encouraged him to carry out violent acts, including throwing a grenade and setting cars on fire.
Ein-Eli was arrested in September following a joint investigation by the Shin Bet and the police’s Lahav 433 major crimes unit and was indicted Sunday in Beersheba District Court.
The case is the latest in a growing number of espionage prosecutions linked to Iran, as Israeli security agencies warn that Tehran has increasingly recruited Israeli citizens through social media platforms such as Telegram especially since the outbreak of Gaza war in 2023.
