BY OUR MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT
JERUSALEM – An Israeli man has been caged for three years after selling out his country to the Ayatollahs for cold, hard cash.
Elimelech Stern, 22, was sentenced by a Jerusalem court yesterday, becoming the first Israeli citizen to be convicted of spying for Iran in this latest wave of underground warfare.
The young turncoat was caught carrying out “missions” on behalf of Tehran’s intelligence services.
But while most spies are driven by ideology or religion, the court heard that Stern’s only loyalty was to his wallet.
“Purely Financial”
Despite the gravity of the charges, the judge handed down a surprisingly moderate three-year sentence.
The court noted that Stern wasn’t a radicalised sleeper cell or a political fanatic—he was simply a mercenary looking for a payday.
”His motivation was purely financial,” the judge remarked, noting that Stern appeared more interested in the payout than the politics of the regime he was serving.
This conviction marks a chilling milestone in the escalating “shadow war” between Israel and Iran.
Social Media Recruitment: Security services (Shin Bet) have warned that Iranian agents are increasingly using “catfishing” techniques on apps like Telegram and WhatsApp to lure Israelis into low-level sabotage and surveillance.
The Missions: Usually, these “tasks” start small—taking photos of government buildings or placing stickers—before escalating to high-level espionage.
The Stakes: Israel is currently on high alert for internal threats as regional tensions remain at a breaking point.
Stern’s conviction sends a clear message to any other would-be traitors: the Shin Bet is watching, and even “just doing it for the money” will land you behind bars.
