Bat Yam Mayor Zvika Prut said Iran was targeting Bat Yam residents for recruitment, urging locals to report any suspicious contact before causing “irreparable damage.”
Mayor of Bat Yam Zvika Brut He warned city residents against cooperating with Iranian dealers who are trying to recruit them as clients, in a video clip he posted on his official Facebook page on Tuesday.
Prut said that the Bat Yam municipality is in contact with the security services, including Shin Bet (the Israeli security service), regarding “the possibility of our residents falling into the Iranian intelligence network.”
Pruett commented that residents may “cooperate” with Iranian dealers, “in following all the messages they send to our phones.”
“We know there are also residents Bat yam He stressed that “those who make such contacts these days.”
These residents “endanger not only Israel’s security, but also their personal future” through their contact with Iranian agents.
Silhouette of a man over the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran (illustrative) (Source: SHUTTERSTOCK)
Pruitt added that doing so would be a “very serious crime,” and anyone arrested by the Shin Bet would “cause themselves irreparable harm.”
He added: “We have recently heard in the media about ordinary people, even reservists, outstanding students, and retirees, who thought they would make easy money, and perhaps do jobs that they thought would cause no harm at all. Later, they were also convinced to do other jobs, such as transporting a package from one place to another.”
“We are still in a security-sensitive period, and we are doing our best to prepare for what lies ahead – but we need your help to ensure that our enemies do not receive even unintended insider help,” he said.
Addressing the residents, Prout said: “If you, your relatives or friends responded to one of these methods, and held conversations with the Iranians, and perhaps have already carried out various tasks, do not wait for them to knock on your door. Perhaps it is not too late to contact us, and we can try with the security services to turn the wheel back.”
“The Shin Bet met with the local government and informed them that there was a general problem,” Prot told N12 News. “The Iranians are no longer in hiding, but they are communicating with everyone by phone. One in a thousand percent is enough – and they were able to recruit.”
Israeli authorities arrest a resident of Tel Aviv on suspicion of spying for Iran
Israeli police and Shin Bet arrested a Tel Aviv resident on suspicion of communicating with an Iranian agent and spying for Tehran, a joint statement confirmed on November 10.
The investigation revealed that the 27-year-old suspect contacted Iranian officials on his own initiative via a social media platform and carried out several tasks in exchange for money.
As part of these missions, he photographed several sites, including the site of the rocket fall in Ramat Gan, the Tel Aviv Museum, and other sites, upon instructions from Iranian handlers.
A joint operation between the Israeli police and the Shin Bet led to the arrest of a 21-year-old resident of Beersheba in October 2025, for actions related to working with Iranian agents, the services announced on November 20.