Key facts
- An Israeli citizen has been indicted on security offenses for allegedly acting on behalf of foreign intelligence operatives.
- The Shin Bet and police arrested the individual, who was found to be involved in a foreign influence operation.
- Israel has launched a two-track influence operation in the United States, combining political advertising with influencer campaigns.
- A firm called Bridges Partners LLC is managing an influencer network under the 'Esther Project' for Israel.
- Israel also has a $1.5 million monthly contract with Brad Parscale's firm, Clock Tower X LLC, for strategic communications.
Israeli authorities have indicted an Israeli citizen on security offenses for allegedly conducting activities on behalf of foreign intelligence operatives targeting Israel. The Shin Bet security service and police announced the indictment on Friday, stating the investigation found the man was involved in a foreign influence operation.
The individual was arrested a month prior upon landing at Ben Gurion Airport and was initially barred from meeting his attorney for 20 days. An indictment and a request to keep him in custody until the end of legal proceedings were filed following the investigation's conclusion.
Separately, new records filed with the U.S. Department of Justice reveal that Israel has initiated a two-track influence operation in the United States. This operation combines significant political advertising with grassroots-style influencer campaigns. A firm named Bridges Partners LLC has been hired to manage an influencer network under a project codenamed the 'Esther Project.' This firm, owned by Israeli consultants Uri Steinberg and Yair Levi, was formed in Delaware in June 2025 and received nearly $200,000 to recruit and coordinate U.S.-based social media influencers. The contracts allow for up to $900,000 in payments over several months, with detailed pricing for influencer recruitment, content development, posting, and agency costs.
Later phases of the 'Esther Project' anticipate further expansion, including matching with Israeli content partners and developing partnerships with U.S.-based marketing agencies. The project also involves a support ecosystem for content production, legal compliance, and campaign analytics.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with a group of influencers in New York City, emphasizing the importance of social media and influencers in combating declining support for Israel. He stated, "We have to fight with the weapons that apply to the battlefields in which we engage, and the most important ones are on social media."
These filings complement a larger, separate deal: Israel's $1.5 million per month contract with Brad Parscale, a former campaign strategist for President Donald Trump. Parscale's firm, Clock Tower X LLC, registered as a foreign agent for Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Havas serving as intermediary. This contract focuses on 'strategic communications' to combat antisemitism in the United States and includes plans to deploy AI-driven tools for SEO campaigns and shaping chatbot outputs. Parscale's campaign aims to produce 100 ads or content pieces monthly, along with 5,000 variations.