Iran's International Secret Agency attempted to recruit an Israeli journalist through a surprising Telegram message. This serious incident, occurring in the midst of war, demands special attention and exposes the subversive methods of operation used by the enemy.

On 11.03.2025, journalist Dim Amor from the "Maakav" website received a Telegram message that quickly became a concerning security event: "We are offering you an opportunity to work in a dynamic and challenging environment. Are you ready to take the next step in your career?" The sender openly and boldly identified themselves as the "International Secret Agency of Iran" – a direct and disturbing exposure of Iranian recruitment attempts on Israeli soil.

• We at the 'Maakav' editorial team have removed and edited parts of the link and username to prevent temptations for hostile elements seeking to harm the state, and also to ensure that Israeli citizens do not accidentally copy these links and expose their devices to malicious software

Not coincidentally, strange codes were attached to the message. The Israel Police emphasized in their instructions that links should not be clicked under any circumstances – it is likely an attempt to inject a virus or take control of the journalist's mobile device.

When the journalist saw the suspicious message, he acted exactly as a responsible citizen should – he immediately contacted the Israel Police's 100 hotline. The police response was quick and professional, and they instructed him to file a formal complaint. This is an example of how to react in similar cases, but unfortunately, many Israeli citizens are not aware of this threat and do not know how to deal with it.

It is incorrect to assume that Iran focuses only on recruiting vulnerable populations; Iranian intelligence services strive to recruit any Israeli citizen who can provide them with valuable information.

Recruiting journalists represents a sophisticated strategic move, as media personnel enjoy extensive access – they document a wide range of events, come into contact with government figures, and enter various facilities. These advantages make recruiting journalists a particularly attractive target. We can only hope they have not succeeded in recruiting Israeli reporters.

The incident brings to the surface a particularly troubling dilemma during national conflict – the average Israeli citizen stands helpless when confronted with an unexpected approach in fluent Hebrew, designed to enlist them in hostile action against their homeland. One should not be indifferent to the fact that the approach was made in Hebrew – this is clear evidence of the high level of investment and sophistication demonstrated by Iranian covert mechanisms in their subversive efforts to penetrate deep into Israeli society.

The journalist expressed strong conviction that his selection as the recipient of the message was not made randomly, but was the result of careful and calculated planning. In the official complaint filed by him to law enforcement authorities, the journalist detailed that the message was received at 18:53 on March 11, 2025, and that he hurried to contact the competent authorities immediately upon exposure to the content of the message. He attached to his complaint visual documentation of the entire correspondence – valuable evidence that could make a significant contribution to advancing investigation efforts and deciphering the identity of the initiating factor behind the suspicious approach.

During the incident, the journalist took another smart step – he blocked the suspicious user as he identified the strange codes as a possible attempt to inject a virus or take over his mobile device. It is very important not to allow such cases to develop. This emphasis is especially critical during wartime, when enemy states intensify their efforts to collect intelligence and harm Israel.

It is clear from this case that Iran is not relenting – it continues persistently and systematically to try to recruit Jews and Israelis for its purposes. It is worth noting that journalist Dim Amor is an Israeli citizen of Jewish origin, who as part of his work at the "Maakav" website writes in five different languages, including Arabic. It seems that this combination of skills makes him an especially preferred target for foreign intelligence services.

The "Maakav" website, where the journalist works, attracts a wide range of visitors, including entries from Palestine and countries hostile to Israel, and many Arabic-speaking browsers. This is a troubling point that highlights the danger – the Iranians are trying to recruit people who have access to wide audiences and diverse information.

Traffic data on the "Maakav" website provides an interesting picture of the extent of exposure: in the last month (as of 12.03.2025), 858,961 visits to the site were recorded. The vast majority – 600,047 visits (about 70%) – came from Israel. However, there are also significant entries from other countries: United States (70,001), United Kingdom (45,058), Philippines (30,458), India (22,977), Canada (22,698), France (19,036), Australia (18,030), South Africa (7,401), Pakistan (6,583), and particularly troublingly – 6,553 visits from Palestine.

Additionally, further visits were recorded from a variety of countries: South Africa (2,540), unknown regions (1,651), Germany (1,425), Italy (959), Netherlands (773), Palestine again (753), Australia (730), Spain (661), and Malaysia (627). The international exposure of the site may explain why specifically a journalist from this outlet was chosen as a target for the Iranian recruitment attempt.

The case of Dim Amor goes beyond a private event with merely personal implications – it provides a disturbing window into the intricacies of the Iranian world of secrecy and into the methodical and bold methods of operation that characterize its mechanisms. Iran's conduct in this affair emphasizes the fact that we are in a real war, not only on the military front but also in the realm of cyber and intelligence.

The fact that Iran directly approaches an Israeli journalist and openly presents itself as the "International Secret Agency of Iran" indicates a disturbing sense of self-confidence, as one convinced of the possibility of finding Israeli citizens who will agree to violate their loyalty to their country, or alternatively, a calculated attempt to sow fear and examine the response patterns of security authorities in the State of Israel.

Every citizen in the State of Israel must be constantly vigilant in the face of such attempts, recognize the modes of operation characteristic of hostile intelligence bodies, and be familiar with the appropriate ways of responding when encountering a similar recruitment attempt. The professional conduct of the Israel Police in the case in question indicates that law enforcement authorities are prepared to deal with the phenomenon, but the primary responsibility lies with the citizen themselves – to identify the impending danger and bring it to the attention of the competent authorities.

The significance of such recruitment attempts extends beyond the individual case. It reflects a covert but determined campaign that Iran is waging against Israel, a campaign in which any Israeli citizen may find themselves on the front lines, whether they are aware of it or not.

It is reasonable to assume that the case of journalist Dim Amor is not an isolated incident, but rather a component in a broad campaign that Iran is conducting against Israel – a campaign in which a variety of means are used, including attempts to recruit Israeli citizens for hostile activity against their country. In times of conflict, there is heightened importance to displaying vigilance in the face of such attempts and knowing ways to deal with them.

In the face of the Iranian threat, Israel must deepen public awareness, refine educational efforts on recruitment attempts, and ensure that every citizen is equipped with accurate knowledge regarding the required course of action when encountering a suspicious approach. Only through such preparation can we effectively deal with the sophisticated and elusive threat that Iran poses to us.