Iranian operatives posing as the manager of an Israeli rapper attempted to lure the 17-year-old daughter of firebrand National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir into an online meeting, Israel's security agency said.
According to Israeli media, the operatives contacted Hallel Ben-Gvir through WhatsApp, using the name of the manager of Israeli rapper Yoav Eliasi, known as The Shadow, and offering her an opportunity to collaborate with well-known Israeli musicians.
They sent her a video link that repeatedly failed, leading her to abandon the attempt.
The Shin Bet later determined the approach was orchestrated by Iranian operatives. The agency briefed Ben-Gvir and his staff, warning that Tehran was focusing on him and his family.
Ben-Gvir, who is under heavy security, has been the target of multiple threats. Earlier this month, the Shin Bet also revealed it had thwarted a Hamas plot to assassinate him using explosive drones.
Last week, Israeli authorities indicted Yaakov Perl, an American-Israeli, for allegedly passing information on Israeli figures, including Ben-Gvir, to Iranian agents.
Iran’s intelligence minister Esmail Khatib last week claimed his ministry had obtained “millions of pages” of classified Israeli documents related to nuclear projects and Western collaborations.
However, the announcement was quickly mocked by both dissidents and hardline loyalists of the Islamic Republic, as the so-called secret documents largely consisted of publicly available images and materials related to Israeli officials.
Itamar Ben-Gvir is an Israeli lawyer far-right politician. He is the leader of the Otzma Yehudit (“Jewish Power”) party, which has roots in Kahanism, an extremist movement banned in Israel founded by deceased ideologue Meir Kahane.
Ben-Gvir is known for his hardline views on Palestinians, Jewish settlement expansion in the West Bank and controversial rhetoric that has drawn both some domestic support and international criticism.
