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“Easy money, Heavy cost”: New Israeli ad campaign urges citizens not to spy for Iran
The campaign, which will run on the radio, websites and social media, comes after 25 cases of Israelis recruited to spy for the Iranian regime were uncovered within the last year
The Israeli government has rolled out an advertising campaign on both traditional and social media urging citizens not to be tempted to spy for the Iranian regime, warning them that the penalties for doing so will far outweigh any meagre monetary gain.
Announced by Israel’s National Government Diplomacy Directorate, the campaign, titled “Easy money, heavy cost” will feature video and audio advertisements, which will run on radio stations, websites and social media platforms. The directorate described the campaign as having been launched “to raise awareness of the phenomenon in which Israeli citizens collaborate with Iran…thereby aiding the enemy during wartime. This follows the escalation of the phenomenon over the past year, during which the Shin Bet and the police uncovered more than 25 cases of Israelis recruited by Iran to perform various tasks, with serious indictments filed against over 35 Israelis.”
One of the ads shows a man drinking with friends, before a scene change shows him behind bars in prison. “For 5,000 shekel, is it worth ruining your life?” the advert asked, referencing the reported amount paid to some of those arrested for carrying out espionage on behalf of the Iranian regime.
“Easy money, heavy cost – to you, to your family, to your country.”
The directorate described the ad campaign as having two main objectives:
“The first is to raise awareness of the phenomenon and the ease with which one can slip into collaborating with the Iranians, often for financial gain. The second is to emphasize to the public that the cost of such actions, which constitute a serious security offence under the law, carries heavy penalties, potentially including up to 15 years in prison.”
The directorate, which is based out of the Prime Minister’s office is understood to be running the campaign together with the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic security agency.
The campaign comes in the wake of Operation Rising Lion, the 12 day campaign in which Israel carried out extensive strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, as well as military and nuclear personnel. Israel is widely understood to have an extensive espionage network inside Iran – Mossad operatives on the ground, for example, were responsible for early attacks which helped to incapacitate the regime’s key surface to air missile defences, enabling the Israeli air force to launch its initial strikes without the loss of a single aircraft.
“Following Operation Rising Lion… the Iranian enemy is expected to further intensify its recruitment efforts and task execution within Israel”, the directorate warned on Wednesday.
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