From the Chief of Staff’s headquarters to the minister’s home: the route of an American Satmar Hasid for Iran
An investigation has been revealed involving an American Satmar Hasid who became a central figure in one of the most serious wartime espionage cases. Maintaining contact with Iranian handlers, he documented sensitive sites, including the home of the former Chief of Staff and Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
In Iran’s service: the recordings we first exposed this Tuesday in our main broadcast appear at first glance like innocent bike ride videos. However, every goal along the documented route was filmed for one entity: Iranian intelligence. As part of his espionage operations, Satmar Hasid Yaakov Perl exposed the security arrangements of Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and even got as close as possible to the home of the former Chief of Staff—all in exchange for money during wartime.
Perl, an American Satmar Hasid who arrived in Israel, decided to join the Iranian apparatus. On the other side of the phone line sat an Iranian operator who began assigning him tasks: “Finally you’re here, and now you can start moving forward for real,” the operator wrote.
“This is your first task: find a GoPro camera with a bicycle mount. I’ll pay you for the task after you complete it, inshallah,” the operator instructed. The American spy provided a price quote, purchased the equipment, and showed his handler that the camera was functioning.
In a subsequent conversation, the Iranian warned the new spy about security forces: “As a friend, I’m telling you: no task is more important than you. You must be careful. Think logically. Remember to clean your phones before every task. Security cameras are everywhere, so avoid preparing in public places. It’s important that no one notices your unusual behavior.”
Following the operational briefing, the mission began: to locate the home of the former Chief of Staff. Initially, the Hasid documented the streets in the area before reaching the entrance to the home. Immediately afterward, the Iranian operator asked him to move into housing near the residence. He provided an exact map and wrote: “Our main goal is to find a home in the green area. The people there are more religious, so you won’t have a problem blending in. I’ll send you 1,200 dollars today: 1,000 for the last two tasks, and the rest for future expenses.”
Ultimately, the Iranian operator decided to drop the relocation plan and shift to another target—the home of Minister Itamar Ben Gvir: “You need to arrive in the area before the mission, filming yourself doing a vlog about the Torah,” he wrote. When the spy expressed concern about a potential checkpoint, the operator replied: “You must be ready for questions and think in advance about your answers.”
The spy did not complete the mission. Questioned by soldiers, he claimed he was heading to the Cave of the Patriarchs. Later, he provided another recording focusing on Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and his security detail. The Iranian operator sent the spy a photo of Ayala Ben Gvir, the minister’s wife, at the Temple Mount, but the spy refused to go there for religious reasons.
After providing recordings of sensitive locations and attempting to gather information on senior attorneys, Perl was arrested by Lahav 433 investigators and the Shin Bet. During interrogation, he admitted to pocketing about 15,000 dollars and expressed no remorse for his actions.
A serious indictment has been filed against Perl in the Tel Aviv District Court, and he remains behind bars. This investigation ends with a clear message: Iran has not stopped trying to recruit Israelis. They continue to search for the next target—someone willing to become their eyes and ears within Israeli territory for money.
