Israel; Shin Bet is the internal security
service, like the FBI or Secret Service in the
USA; and Aman is the intelligence branch of
the Israel Defence Force.
Of all of the above, international and
Israeli, the Mossad is probably one of the
most well-known (if for all the wrong
reasons) intelligence agencies. Mossad is
short for HaMossad leModi‘in uleTafkidim
Meyuhadim, which means: “Institute for
Intelligence and Special Operations”. In
broad terms, its agents collect intelligence,
conduct covert operations and work in
counter-terrorism, focusing primarily on
the Arab nations and pro-Arab
organisations. That is where the difference
lies between it and other similar agencies:
Mossad (as well as Shin Bet and, to an
extent, Aman) has a principal rather than a
generalised focus because of the continual
threats against Israel’s existence and
legitimacy. International espionage is
widespread, but against Israel it is the Arab
world that fosters the gravest danger.
Little is known about Mossad’s workings
– as is the case with all secret service agencies
– but we do know it has eight different
departments. The largest is the Collections
Department, responsible for espionage
operations and working out of offices across
the globe under both diplomatic and official
cover. Other departments include the LAP
– Lechima P’sichologit – which deals with
psychological warfare and propaganda; the
Political Action and Liaison Department,
which conducts political activities and
relations with friendly foreign intelligence
services and nations with which Israel has
no diplomatic relations; and Metzada, the
most clandestine of the operations branches,
which is tasked with managing any foreign
targets considered to be significantly
threatening to Israeli national security.
Mossad has been in existence since 1949,
producing
strategic,
political
and
operational intelligence for the country;
preventing terrorist attacks against Israeli
targets abroad; bringing Jews to Israel from
countries where official aliyah agencies are
not allowed to operate; and carrying out
special operations outside Israel’s borders.
Among many other actions, Mossad was
responsible for pursuing Nazi war criminals
which culminated in the capture of Adolph
Eichmann, who was brought to Israel to
face justice; in all probability, though never
confirmed, tracking down and assassinating
the Arab guerrilla leaders responsible for
the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972
Munich Olympic Games; bringing home the
Ethiopian Jews; and rescuing the hostages
of a skyjacked Israeli airliner that was held
at Entebbe in Uganda in 1976.
Shin Bet is Israel’s internal counterespionage and counter-terrorist agency,
whose motto is: “Defends and shall not be
seen.” It is responsible for the security and
protection of the prime minister and other
government leaders, of defence industries,
sensitive economic locations and Israeli
installations outside the country. Also
known as Shabak, it is tasked with
safeguarding state security, exposing
terrorist rings, interrogating terror
suspects, providing intelligence for counterterrorism operations in the West Bank and
Gaza, handling counter-espionage, the
personal protection of senior public
o