Militaryטל דיליאן

Tal Dilian

Tal Dilian is an Israeli reserve colonel who commanded the Intelligence Directorate's technology unit and later founded the spyware company Intellexa, and was convicted by a Greek court in 2026 in the Predator wiretapping affair.

Founding IntellexaThe Greek Predator wiretapping affairCommanding the Intelligence technology unitCofounding Circles

Occupation: military officer
Education: Tel Aviv University
Rank: aluf mishne
Wars: South Lebanon conflict, 1982 Lebanon War

The story of Tal Dilian's life

Dilian grew up in Jerusalem, the son of the painters Hana and Menashe Dilian. He had 2 sisters and a younger brother, Yoel, who was killed during his military service. He attended the Hebrew Gymnasium Rehavia.

He holds a bachelor's degree in political science, a law degree and an MBA from Tel Aviv University.

He joined the IDF in 1979 and served in Sayeret Matkal, later holding staff posts in the Intelligence Corps. He commanded the Intelligence Directorate's technology unit from 1998 to 2002. After a military police investigation into claims of irregularities, his promotion was canceled and he retired in 2002, and in 2005 Maariv reported he had been finally cleared.

He helped found the Atidim program and was a founding partner in startups including SolarEdge and Vidyo. In 2011 he cofounded Circles with Boaz Goldman, which was sold in 2014. He was a vice president at Stratasys from 2015 to 2017 and founded Intellexa in 2019.

In 2024 the U.S. government sanctioned him, his partner Sara Alexandra Faisal Hammo and Intellexa. In February 2026 a Greek court convicted him over the wiretapping of ministers, military officials and journalists and sentenced him to 8 years in prison. He appealed, and the sentence was suspended pending the appeal.

Tal Dilian's life in 8 milestones

1979
Joined the IDF and volunteered for Sayeret Matkal.
1998
Became commander of the Intelligence Directorate's technology unit.
2002
Retired from the IDF.
2011
Cofounded Circles with Boaz Goldman.
2014
Circles was sold.
2019
Founded Intellexa.
2024
Was sanctioned by the U.S. government.
2026
Was convicted by a Greek court in the Predator affair.

Tal Dilian served in Sayeret Matkal

Dilian joined the IDF in 1979, served in Sayeret Matkal and commanded the Intelligence Directorate's technology unit from 1998 to 2002. He holds the rank of colonel in the reserves and received the Israel Defense Prize.

Sayeret Matkal