Authorities said enlisting rabbis, influencers to warn Haredim against spying for Iran

Israeli authorities are enlisting rabbis and ultra-Orthodox influencers to warn the Haredi community against spying for Iran, according to a report by The New York Times. This initiative comes after dozens of Israelis, including soldiers and reservists, have been charged with espionage for Iran over the past two years, with Haredim involved in at least nine of these cases. Security officials are struggling to curb this phenomenon, where Iran-linked agents often contact individuals via social media, promising money for tasks that escalate from minor vandalism to more serious offenses. Rabbi Yigal Cohen, a member of the Chief Rabbinate, stated in a video, "I am begging you, there is no greater blasphemy than seeing a Torah-abiding, observant Jew betray his people." Prominent Haredi commentator Israel Cohen and journalist Mendel Unger have also broadcast warnings, with Unger publishing a message in Yiddish. The increasing number of cases has led to the opening of a new wing in Haifa's Damon prison for those indicted on spying charges.