Israel Charges Two with Betting on Military Operations

Two Israeli nationals have been charged with allegedly using classified military information to place bets on a US-based prediction market, Polymarket. The Defence Ministry, Shin Bet security service, and police issued a joint statement confirming that a civilian and a military reservist were suspected of placing bets based on information they had access to.

According to the authorities, the State Prosecutor’s Office has decided to indict them for serious security offences, as well as bribery and obstruction of justice. The investigation found no operational damage was caused in the current incident, but described it as a “severe ethical failure” that crossed a red line.

Polymarket is a website where users place bets on various events, including elections, sports, and news events. Israeli authorities have not disclosed the identities of the two individuals or the reservist’s rank or position within the military. However, they warned that such actions posed a “real security risk” for the military and the state.

The incident occurred in June, ahead of Israel’s war with Iran, resulting in winnings of approximately $150,000. The military and security services have stated that they view the alleged activities as serious and will take resolute action to thwart and bring those involved to justice.

Source: Al Jazeera