Shabak Reveals "Serious Case": Bets on Israeli Secrets

SadaNews - On Thursday, Israeli security agencies announced the dismantling of a case described as "serious," related to managing bets on the timing of military operations through the "Polimarket" platform, based on confidential information that one of the suspects had access to due to his service in the reserves.

The announcement came after a joint investigation led by the Israel Security Agency (Shabak), and the "Arzim" Central Investigation Unit of the Ministry of Defense, in cooperation with the military police and the Israeli police.

According to the newspaper "Maariv," several suspects were arrested, including a civilian and a reserve soldier, on suspicion of betting on the likelihood of military operations, relying on classified confidential information.

After completing the investigation and forming a base of evidence, the public prosecution decided to file indictments against several suspects on serious security charges, along with accusations of bribery and obstruction of justice.

The "Polimarket" platform, which was launched in 2020, is a website that allows users to bet on predictions related to political and global events, using digital currencies, with the option of registering without revealing their true identity.

Security officials indicated that betting on military operations, especially by individuals privy to sensitive information, could reveal operational intentions or the timing of potential attacks, posing an actual security risk.

Security agencies confirmed in a joint statement that "the specialized agencies regard the actions attributed to the defendants with utmost seriousness and will work firmly to thwart any illegal use of classified information and hold accountable anyone proven to be involved."

They clarified that the details provided are only those permitted for publication by court order, while other investigation details and the identities of those involved remain subject to a publication ban.

For its part, the Israeli army stated that "any use of highly classified information for personal gain is considered a serious breach of military values and a clear red line," emphasizing that criminal and commanding actions will be taken against any entity proven to be involved.

The army noted that, according to the results of the investigation, no operational damage occurred as a result of the current case, but it confirmed steps are being taken to tighten instructions within military units to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.