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Fake invitation from a non-existent rabbi
Israeli intelligence services have uncovered an Iranian attempt to lure Israeli officials into a trap with a fake invitation. Two ministers, Yitzhak Wasserlauf and Amichai Eliyahu of the Otsma Yehudit party, received an invitation to Hanukkah celebrations in New York on behalf of a non-existent rabbi of the Chabad movement. This was reported by the Time Ukraine Israel portal, citing the Vesty publication . The invitation was in the form of an official letter, which referred to a festive event that was supposed to take place in late December in Brooklyn and included the participation of prominent US public figures. The contact number provided in the letter was registered only in October 2024, which raised suspicions about its authenticity. Consequently, the ministers asked the General Security Service (Shabak) to check it.
“Impostors” among diplomats and the subsequent investigation
Immediately after receiving the invitation, an assistant to one of the ministers received a call from a man who introduced himself as the second secretary of the Israeli Embassy in the United States. After consulting with Ambassador Mike Herzog, it became known that there was no such employee at the embassy. In response, the “secretary” accused the aide of lying, which further confirmed suspicions that the trap had been organised.
Tragic incident in the UAE: discovery of the body of a Chabad rabbi
Meanwhile, events in the United Arab Emirates are also linked to Iran: the body of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, a representative of Chabad, who disappeared on 21 November, was found . The body showed signs of violence and his car showed signs of a struggle. Preliminary investigations point to Iran as the customer of the murder, and the perpetrators of the crime are likely to be three Uzbek citizens.
Updated recommendations for Israelis in the UAE
In connection with these events, the Israeli National Security Council has updated its recommendations for citizens staying in the UAE or planning to visit the country. Israelis are advised to avoid crowds in public places, not to display symbols associated with Israel, and to refrain from posting on social media that could give away their location.
The scam was yet another warning of Iran’s intensified hybrid warfare, which uses artificial intelligence to set traps against Israeli officials, demonstrating the need for increased security and vigilance.
