US Citizen Charged in Israel With Spying for Iran Using Crypto

An American citizen studying at an ultra-Orthodox seminary in Jerusalem has been indicted on espionage charges, marking a prosecution in connection with a widening crackdown on individuals recruited to spy for Iran. Eli Levon, 21, faces charges including contact with a foreign agent and communicating information that could benefit an enemy. Prosecutors allege that Levon was recruited after responding to a job posting on Telegram and was directed by individuals claiming to represent Iranian intelligence to carry out surveillance tasks, including filming sensitive locations and leaving coded messages. According to the indictment, Levon was paid in cryptocurrency for the information he provided, with combined payments totaling approximately $1,379. His attorney, Raz Bar Tzvi, has disputed the charges, arguing that the alleged conduct does not amount to espionage. Israeli authorities have indicted around 60 people on Iran-related espionage charges since 2023, with officials suggesting that some sites surveilled by these individuals were later targeted in Iranian missile attacks. A Jerusalem District Attorney's Office official highlighted the case as an example of foreign intelligence agencies exploiting the digital sphere to recruit individuals within Israel.