Inside Israel's super-secret intelligence agency
/ AP
As tensions continue to mount between Iran and Israel, Dan Raviv and Yossi Melman offer detailed reporting on how Israel's intelligence agency operates inside Iran.
There've been more than a few reports suggesting that Israel's foreign intelligence agency - the Mossad - hires Iranian dissidents to carry out sabotage and assassinations inside Iran.
But a study of fifty years of assassinations by the Mossad - including conversations with current and former operatives and those who work with them in countries friendly to Israel - yields the conclusion that the assassins inside Iran are Israelis.
The Mossad has a special operations unit - a kind of Mossad within the Mossad - called Kidon (the Hebrew word for bayonet), which has over the years developed unique methods for infiltrating enemy countries, and for murdering Israel's enemies without leaving a trace.
The Mossad benefits from unmatched linguistic capabilities, in part because Israel has many citizens whose families moved from Arabic- or Persian-speaking countries. Israeli operatives have traveled into Iran using the passports of other countries, including bogus documents produced by skilled Mossad forgers, and genuine passports where the photographs might be altered slightly.
Insight into the psyches and behavior of members of the super-secret Kidon squad can be found - perhaps surprisingly - in the pages of a novel called "Duet in Beirut," published only in Hebrew (in 2002), by Mishka Ben-David, a former intelligence officer in the Mossad's operations department, which runs and coordinates Kidon.
From the book and other sources it is understood that Kidon is so compartmentalized that its office is not inside the Mossad headquarters. Kidon combatants - who dubbed themselves "The Team" - hardly ever go there. Even when interacting with Mossad operatives from other units, Kidon men use assumed names. In the field, members use a third name - and sometimes even fourth and fifth identities.
Their training includes almost anything one might imagine is needed for an intelligence operation: surveillance, shaking off surveillance, studying objects and memorizing everything about them. They become proficient at remembering codes and securely communicating during missions without raising suspicion.
Because they are the cream of the crop, Kidon men and women are the ones the Mossad director selects for very dangerous missions - including complex operations of an information-gathering nature - that require top professionals.
Despite tactical successes in Iran in recent years, the Mossad and its top political master, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, know that the entire Iranian nuclear weapons program will not be demolished by assassinations of nuclear scientists and military officers.
Yet, any delay in Iran's nuclear work represents an achievement. Israeli strategic thinking (exercised in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and elsewhere) holds that temporary disruptions to an enemy's dangerous projects are sufficient cause for taking significant risks.
Ex-Mossad chief Meir Dagan.
/ CBS NewsBut the intimidating impact that Dagan aimed to create in Iran seems to be exhausted. This is reportedly apparent to Tamir Pardo, the new head of the Mossad, who has a reputation for knowing that one should not push one's luck. Iran is becoming more dangerous for Mossad and other foreign intelligence operatives. One can expect a halt, at least temporarily, of the assassination campaign.
Dagan, in retirement, has become outspoken in his opposition to a military strike by Israel against Iran. When he spoke to Lesley Stahl on CBS's "60 Minutes" in March, Dagan warned that retaliation by Iran and its proxies could be highly damaging to normal life in the Jewish state. Dagan also believes that an attack by Israel would unite most Iranians around their regime and would give Iran's scientists and engineers a major reason to speed up their underground nuclear work.
His private advice boils down to pointing out that there is still plenty of disruption to be accomplished within Iran by sabotage, assassinations, and a truly innovative weapon - cyberwarfare. The worm called Stuxnet that took over Iranian nuclear lab computers was a product of Israeli and U.S. intelligence agencies working together; and it was not the only computer virus created by the highly skilled programmers in both nations.
While Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak seem skeptical that international economic sanctions will persuade Iran to cancel its nuclear bomb program, Dagan and other former and current intelligence officials believe that sanctions are biting and could be a major factor in the ayatollahs' thinking.
Only last week, most of Europe stopped purchasing Iranian oil. Tension in the Middle East is likely to rise, and predicting when - or how - the crisis over Iran may be resolved is truly impossible. There is a high likelihood, however, that the Mossad - and its even more secretive Kidon unit - will somehow be involved.
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But, the USS Liberty was passing information to the Egyptians during the battle for the Suez Canal; it's a shame US service personnel had to die because some moron at the US State Dept wanted to be best buds with the Egyptian dictator, who was a real [expletive deleted]. War is a nasty business. What consistently distinguishes the USA when it meddles in these regional wars is its naivite. We never seem to learn that in some areas of the world, there are no good guys; or more precisely, we ignore or betray the only good guy in the middle east because some oil company or some billionaire has far more influence than it or he should have with the President and his Cabinet, or with Congress. People complain about the Jewish lobby, but there's no lobby more powerful than Big Oil.
Just a few examples where they got caught. What else are they responsible for and got away with it?
1.) Bombing of King David Hotel in Jerusalem.
2.) The Lavon Affair.
3.) Attempted sinking of USS Liberty.
4.) Theft of passports from quadriplegic New Zealander.
5.) Pollard spying.
6.) ...
The Irgun policy was based on what was then called Revisionist Zionism founded by Ze'ev Jabotinsky. According to Howard Sachar, "The policy of the new organization was based squarely on Jabotinsky's teachings: every Jew had the right to enter Palestine; only active retaliation would deter the Arabs; only Jewish armed force would ensure the Jewish state".[2]
Some of the better-known attacks by the Irgun were the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem on 22 July 1946 and the Deir Yassin massacre (carried out together with Lehi) on 9 April 1948.
Critics of the Irgun have seen it as a terrorist organization. It was legally classified as such by the new State of Israel in 1948.[3]
The Irgun was a political predecessor to Israel's right-wing Herut (or "Freedom") party, which led to today's Likud party.[4] Likud has led or been part of most Israeli governments since 1977.
Go tell a Liberty survivor it was 'friendly fire.' See what happens. Lying pos.
So the Lavon Affair is irrelevant? Israeli agents and Egyptian Jews got caught attempting to blow up US and British targets in Egypt, so they could blame it on Islamic extremists. When you juxtapose this with the accounts of people WHO WERE THERE when Israeli jets then torpedo boats repeatedly attacked the UNARMED, defenseless, Stars and Stripes waving Liberty, it becomes clear the 'false flag' operation has been used more than once by "Israeli Intelligence" to draw America into a fight on Israel's behalf. "By deceipt, thou shall wage war", remember? Gee, I wonder if this might be relevant vis a vis all the Iran hysteria from the used car salesman and his diminutive sock puppet.
It said that in 43 cases there were suspicions about breaches of the Defense Export Control Law, including promoting deals that contravene restrictions on the sale of some systems to foreign countries.
On March 8, India's Defense Ministry blacklisted state-owned IMI, along with five Indian and foreign companies, for 10 years over a 2009 bribery scandal. IMI denies any wrongdoing.
India is a one of Israel's major arms customers and that ban could have an impact on defense exports.
Israel's Defense Ministry ordered all defense companies to sign onto a "compliance program" to eradicate corruption in defense deals.
But all the evidence indicates that the ministry keeps its registered arms dealers, who are invariably former officers, on a remarkably loose leash.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk5CBTgI030&feature=watch_response
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAR_Iwq9-R0&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBYtij4Q7sE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWQQFJXMrg4&feature=related
Two, big, brave soldiers, armed with their big rifles assault a 9 year old child:
http://www.btselem.org/video/201200629_soldier_kicks_boy
Settlers and soldiers, armed with M-16's (gee, where did those come from?), shooting at protesters armed with [gasp], stones:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3bFIFSNKiM
Israeli soldier shoots blindfolded man, in custody with his arms tied behind his back:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY8dPGiOTGs
British film crew documents the REAL racists and terrorists on the West Bank:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5MvQI0dshw
The selling of this Iran war is amoral. Israel needs to be held accountable for their crimes, not deified. This sycophantic 'coverage' falsely glorifying Israel induces vomiting.
"These lies that you quote have been proven repeatedly to be lies"
You state there is proof yet you fail to produce sources. Credible sources please, not hasbara propaganda.
Anyone who watches the videos can see the truth for themselves. It is self-evident.
Your silly allegations and childish denial of video evidence make for good comedy. Thanks for the laugh to start my day.
Remember the unarmed USS Liberty and those Americans who died during Israel's cowardly and deliberate attempt to sink her in international waters. Israel's lies about this incident have been clearly been shown to be just that: lies.
"These lies that you quote have been proven repeatedly to be lies"
You state there is proof yet you fail to produce sources. Credible sources please, not hasbara propaganda.
Anyone who watches the videos can see the truth for themselves. It is self-evident.
Your silly allegations and childish denial of video evidence make for good comedy. Thanks for the laugh to start my day.
Remember the unarmed USS Liberty and those Americans who died during Israel's cowardly and deliberate attempt to sink her in international waters. Israel's lies about this incident have been clearly been shown to be just that: lies.
ally. They have received over 100 billion American dollars and they spy on us. Plus, one of the worst and most expensive betrayals in our history and they want us to release him to them, no doubt to put a medal on him. Israel is an international outlaw. They need to behave like an ally to the U.S. or we should cut foreign aid. Not another dime.
That said, having an organization like Mossad and the Kidon is of little value unless it is led by "hard men". A trait few leaders in the West hold.(Civilian or Military). The Israeli's have "hard men".
Men like Russian Field Marshall Rossokovsky, German Field Marshall Eric Von Manstein, Israely General Ariel Sharon or American General Curtis LeMay. Men who do not flinch. Men who are Killers.
The time for talking with Iran is over. May the soft men of the West, be guided by the "hard men" of the past. For the Israeli's surely will be.
~ JOHN SHEEHAN, S.J.
Jesuit priest and missionary
Original?! It's a quote. By definition, quotes are NOT original. That's the point!
Maybe you should get them to cover fundamental English one more time, the next time you 'image management specialists' all get together over at the Holiday Inn.
What a surprise to see you drop to the lowest common denominator and insult a respected priest. The fact Sheehan is a Christian, and you're not, means you can slag him all day long and nobody can say A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G about it. Right? The times they are a-changin', and your conduct is a big part of the shift.
Meanwhile, please keep promoting Israel just the way you are. I couldn't hope for better representation in front of a US audience, as more and more people begin to figure out how despicable Israel really is. Good work!
Anyone who doesn't get that hates Jews more than they love themselves.
Two different issues, unless you're pimping for more U.S. taxpayer subsidies.
This report provides an overview of U.S. foreign assistance to Israel. It includes a review of past
aid programs, data on annual assistance, and an analysis of current issues. For general
information on Israel, see CRS Report RL33476, Israel: Background and Relations with the
United States, by Carol Migdalovitz. For information on overall U.S. assistance to the Middle
East, see CRS Report RL32260, U.S. Foreign Assistance to the Middle East: Historical
Background, Recent Trends, and the FY2011 Request, by Jeremy M. Sharp.
Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign assistance since World War II. From
1976-2004, Israel was the largest annual recipient of U.S. foreign assistance, having since been
supplanted by Iraq. Since 1985, the United States has provided nearly $3 billion in grants
annually to Israel.
Almost all U.S. bilateral aid to Israel is in the form of military assistance. In the past, Israel also
had received significant economic assistance. Strong congressional support for Israel has resulted
in Israel's receiving benefits not available to other countries. For example, Israel can use some
U.S. military assistance both for research and development in the United States and for military
purchases from Israeli manufacturers. In addition, all U.S. foreign assistance earmarked for Israel
is delivered in the first 30 days of the fiscal year. Most other recipients normally receive aid in
installments. Congress also appropriates funds for joint U.S.-Israeli missile defense programs, like the Patriot.