Shin Bet launches awareness campaign as Iran targets Haredi Israelis for espionage

Israel's internal security agency, the Shin Bet, has launched a broad awareness campaign within the Haredi community following the identification of Iranian efforts to recruit spies from the sector. Security officials have engaged with rabbis, media figures, and local politicians to warn of the dangers posed by seemingly harmless approaches that may be part of recruitment operations. Rabbi Yigal Cohen, a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council, stated that security officials warned him that individuals might be tempted by requests to photograph locations or transport weapons. The Shin Bet confirmed that it is conducting awareness activities across various sectors of Israeli society as part of its legal mandate to thwart espionage and protect state secrets. In recent months, Haredi media outlets, including the newspaper Yated Ne’eman and the magazine Rega, have published reports warning of Iranian attempts to infiltrate Haredi neighborhoods. Yedidya Lau, an adviser at the Federation of Local Authorities, noted that the campaign aims to protect community members who may be less familiar with Iranian manipulation tactics and the potentially disastrous consequences of such interactions.