An Israeli man who served in the IDF and also holds Romanian citizenship renewed his foreign passport, bought a new phone and SIM card, and traveled through Iraq, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia, countries Israelis are barred by law from entering without special permission, according to an indictment whose publication was cleared by the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court on Tuesday; Walla learned on Thursday.
The court on Tuesday allowed publication of the indictment filed against him by a senior deputy in the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office, attorney Ariela Navon, after accepting the prosecution's request to lift the gag order.
On the same day, 27-year-old Givatayim resident Lior Matan Weinstein admitted the facts in the indictment and was convicted.
The gag order had been imposed after the indictment was filed in November 2025, at the defense's request.
Prosecutors argued that there was a public interest in publishing the case, among other reasons to clarify for the public the criminal significance of entering countries prohibited under the law, and the court accepted that position.
According to the indictment, Weinstein had already planned to visit various countries in the Middle East in August 2023, including those Israelis are forbidden to enter.
The indictment states that in August 2023, Weinstein entered the Kurdistan region of Iraq and left two days later. In December of that year, he returned to the area again.
Weinstein visits Yemen, Saudi Arabia without proper permission
Later, between late January and early February 2024, he stayed in Yemen and also visited Saudi Arabia for two days.
According to the prosecution, Iraq, Yemen and Saudi Arabia are countries that may not be entered without the appropriate permit, and Weinstein entered them without receiving approval from the interior minister or the prime minister.
Because of this, he was charged with unlawful entry into a country.