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Israeli Court Convicts Man for Unauthorized Middle East Travel

7/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

Israel convicted 27-year-old Givatayim resident Lior Matan Weinstein for traveling to Iraq, Yemen and Saudi Arabia without ministerial permission.
He entered Iraq’s Kurdistan in August 2023, returned December 2023, then spent late January-early February 2024 in Yemen and two days in Saudi Arabia.
The November 2025 indictment was cleared for publication by the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, lifting a gag order, which Attorney Ariela Navon said served the public interest.

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Story summary

Israel convicted 27-year-old Givatayim resident Lior Matan Weinstein for traveling to Iraq, Yemen and Saudi Arabia without ministerial permission.
He entered Iraq’s Kurdistan in August 2023, returned December 2023, then spent late January-early February 2024 in Yemen and two days in Saudi Arabia.
The November 2025 indictment was cleared for publication by the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, lifting a gag order, which Attorney Ariela Navon said served the public interest.