Yaakov Perl, a 49-year-old dual American-Israeli citizen affiliated with the Satmar Hasidic community, has been indicted on charges of espionage on behalf of Iranian intelligence services. Prosecutors allege that Perl documented the residence of former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and gathered detailed information on the security arrangements surrounding National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's home, passing the intelligence to Iranian handlers for at least $15,000 in cryptocurrency payments.
According to investigators, Perl harbored a deep antipathy toward Zionism and the State of Israel. He had been living in Morocco for several years, where he published anti-Zionist writings and participated in anti-Israel protests, including an appearance at a demonstration in Rabat shortly after October 7 where he declared that "the real Judaism and the real Jews are against Zionism." During this time, he attempted to seek asylum in Iran but received no response from Tehran.
Beginning in 2023, Perl made contact with Iranian intelligence operatives through the Telegram messaging application, initiating the relationship himself and pressing his handlers to recruit him when they initially hesitated. An Iranian foreign agent eventually agreed to work with him and promised monthly payments in exchange for intelligence-gathering activities. Perl renewed his Israeli passport and traveled to Israel in the summer of 2025 to carry out missions under Iranian direction.
According to prosecutors, Perl cycled to Halevi's community in Judea and Samaria after being provided a detailed map by his Iranian handler. He photographed Halevi's house and surrounding homes that could serve as surveillance vantage points, though the mission was eventually abandoned. He was subsequently instructed to surveil Ben-Gvir's residence and attempted to conceal a camera on his chest to photograph the security arrangements, but Israeli soldiers stopped him near the minister's community. Perl claimed to be en route to a religious site and was released, then reported the encounter and troop movements back to his Iranian handler.
Investigators also documented that Perl filmed streets in Haifa, Beit Shemesh and at a train station in Karmiel using a camera mounted on his bicycle. He attempted to recruit other Israelis and foreign workers to conduct espionage for Iran, but those recruitment efforts failed. Perl considered renting an apartment near both Halevi's and Ben-Gvir's homes to conduct extended surveillance operations.
The Tel Aviv District Court ordered Perl held in custody pending trial. Security officials emphasized that the case represents a significant breach, with Perl acting with full awareness that he was aiding Iranian intelligence and that his actions endangered Israel's national security.
National Security Minister Ben-Gvir responded to the allegations in a public statement, characterizing the arrest as one of approximately nine attempts on his life and vowing to continue his security operations without hesitation. "I will not for a moment change my path, and for a moment I will not fear to continue fighting for the security of Israeli citizens," Ben-Gvir said.
The case reflects what Israeli security officials describe as an escalating pattern of Iranian recruitment efforts targeting Israeli citizens both domestically and abroad. The Shin Bet and Israeli police warned that Iran continues to actively attempt to recruit Israelis through social media platforms, particularly Telegram. In recent months, authorities have announced multiple espionage arrests involving individuals accused of gathering information for Iranian handlers, including an IDF soldier and foreign workers operating within Israel.
The indictment against Perl includes charges of aiding the enemy during wartime, providing information that could compromise internal security, and supplying data that could benefit a foreign adversary.
