The Minister for the Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience, Yitzhak Wasserlauf, and the Minister of Heritage, Amichai Eliyahu, were targeted in a suspected fraud attempt, apparently orchestrated by Iranian actors. The ministers received invitations purportedly from the Chabad movement to attend a Hanukkah event in Brooklyn, New York. However, security checks revealed the invitation was a forgery.
The invitation, sent in the name of "Rabbi Yitzhak Shaffer," disclosed details about a event planned for late December in Brooklyn, featuring prominent figures from the American Jewish community. The senders even offered to handle the travel and accommodation arrangements for the minister.
Wasserlauf grew suspicious upon receiving the invitation and forwarded it to his office's security officer for examination. Israeli security agencies subsequently determined that the invitation likely originated from Iranian sources, who appear to be attempting to collect intelligence or establish contact with senior Israeli officials.
Chabad's security organization (CWA) confirmed that they were aware of the suspicious communication and stated that the matter is being handled in coordination with official security agencies.
This incident is part of a broader series of Iranian attempts in recent months to target Israel and its officials through deception and disinformation operations.
