[Today’s Prayer] Iran recruits Israelis online to incite social unrest and order assassinations

Israel has claimed that Iran recruited its citizens through the internet to carry out sabotage activities and plot assassinations, The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 17th (local time).

According to the report, Vladislav Viktorson, a 31-year-old Israeli living in the suburbs east of Tel Aviv, received an offer via Telegram last summer that promised “easy money.”

His first assignment was simply to spray-paint anti-government slogans around his neighborhood. Some of the graffiti even compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hitler. Viktorson and his accomplice, Bernstein, earned $600 (about 830,000 KRW) for this task.

(omitted)

Israeli police and the domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet concluded that their employer was an Iranian intelligence officer.

According to the NYT, more than 40 Israelis have been arrested in the past year for committing crimes under Iranian orders.

The instructions given to the suspects included arson, recovering hidden cash, collecting and transporting weapons or explosives. In some cases, they were ordered to install cameras near the defense minister’s home or even travel to Iran for assassination training. The youngest suspect was just 13 years old.

Shin Bet issued a statement saying, “Iran is pouring significant funds and resources into recruiting Israelis through the internet.”

Source: News1

“Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.” (Psalm 25:5-7)

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we hear the news that Iran is recruiting Israeli citizens online with financial incentives, instructing them to engage in anti-government activities, espionage, and even assassination plots.

Since Israel views this as a threat to national security, tensions and conflict between Iran and Israel are deepening. In the midst of this situation, we seek Your abundant mercy all the more.

Forgive Iran for its sins of threatening Israel through wrongful means, and let the words of Jesus — who commanded us to love our enemies — guide and instruct Iran.

Also, lead Israel to repent for selling out its people for money, and grant them wisdom through Your Word to guide their nation along the righteous path.

May the churches in Iran and Israel unite first in the love of Christ and pray together, so that all darkness fueling conflict between the two nations will be driven away, and true shalom will come upon both Iran and Israel.

In these last days, when nation rises against nation and kingdom against kingdom, let Iran and Israel become nations that reveal God’s kindness and goodness, testifying to Jesus, who is the Truth, among all peoples.

Through Iran and Israel, may the way be prepared for the return of Jesus for all nations.