Israeli prosecutors charged a Jerusalem man with working for Iranian intelligence operatives who paid him in cryptocurrency to photograph locations, plant hidden messages, and document his activities across the capital.
Eli Lavon of Jerusalem maintained contact with handlers identifying themselves as “Sina” and “Alexander” who worked for Iranian intelligence, according to an indictment filed in Jerusalem District Court. Despite knowing or having reason to know they were foreign agents, Lavon carried out a series of tasks for them between late 2025 and early 2026.
Illustration | Photo: ShutterstockThe tasks included photographing Jerusalem’s central bus station, documenting a building in the Bukharian Quarter, hiding a cigarette box containing a note reading “the work is complete” in Hadar Mall, and purchasing a USB drive, wrapping it in a 50-shekel bill, and planting it in a Jerusalem restaurant. Lavon filmed himself completing the missions and sent the footage to his handlers.
For his work, Lavon received about $861 in cryptocurrency from the agent “Sina” and roughly $518 from “Alexander”—totaling approximately $1,379, according to the indictment.
“Sometimes all it takes is one Telegram message and an offer of easy money,” said attorney Ronit Shantzer Yacobi of the Jerusalem District Attorney’s Office. “What begins as a seemingly marginal or innocent task can quickly turn into cooperation with a hostile entity operating against the State of Israel. This indictment illustrates how foreign intelligence agencies try to exploit the digital space to locate, recruit, and activate people from within Israel, and how important it is to show vigilance and immediately cut off contact with such approaches. Contact that tangibly harms state security.”
The investigation was conducted by the Central Unit (YMAR) of the Jerusalem District and the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency. The indictment charges Lavon with contact with a foreign agent and providing information to an enemy that could be useful to them.
Alongside the indictment, prosecutors filed a motion to hold Lavon in custody until the conclusion of legal proceedings against him.