Mossad – Shin Beth: Israel Foreign Intelligence and Security Services History CIA File

Description

Israeli Intelligence and Security: A 1979 Overview

This timeline is based on a March 1979 CIA report and covers the background and development of Israel’s intelligence and security services up to that point.

• Formation of Key Services (Dates Not Specified, but foundational):Mossad (Mossad Letafkidim Meyouchadim – The Secret Intelligence Service): Established with primary responsibility for foreign operations. It is subordinate to the Prime Minister.
• Shin Beth (Sherut Bitachon Klalt – Counterespionage and Internal Security): Established with responsibility for internal security. It is directly subordinate to the Prime Minister.
• Agaf Modiin (Military Intelligence): Established with the main responsibility for strategic military intelligence and communications intelligence. It is under the command of the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces.
• Establishment of Coordinating Body (Dates Not Specified, but foundational):Va’adat Rashet Hasherutim (The Committee of the Heads of Services), commonly known as Va’adat: Formed as Israel’s principal intelligence and security authority. Its function is to coordinate the operations and activities of its member services (Mossad, Shin Beth, Military Intelligence).
• Ongoing Support Roles (Dates Not Specified, but continuous):Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Provides support in research and political planning to the Israeli intelligence community.
• Ministry of the Interior: Assists the National Police with police investigations and the maintenance of border security.
• Development and Review (Leading up to March 1979):March 1979: A 47-page report titled “Israel Foreign Intelligence and Security Services” is compiled by the CIA’s Directorate of Operations Counterintelligence Staff and the Defense Intelligence Agency. This report reviews the background and development of the Israeli security services, their functions, organization, administrative practices, methods of operation, relations with each other, and professional standards, morale, and disciplinary standards.

Cast of Characters

This list includes the principal entities and organizations mentioned in the source that play a significant role in Israel’s intelligence and security landscape. No individual people are named in this specific excerpt.

• Va’adat Rashet Hasherutim (Va’adat):Bio: The Committee of the Heads of Services, and Israel’s principal intelligence and security authority. Its core function is to coordinate the operations and activities of its member intelligence and security services.
• Mossad (Mossad Letafkidim Meyouchadim):Bio: The Secret Intelligence Service. It holds primary responsibility for Israel’s foreign operations and reports directly to the Prime Minister.
• Shin Beth (Sherut Bitachon Klalt):Bio: The Counterespionage and Internal Security Service. Its main responsibility is for internal security within Israel, and it is directly subordinate to the Prime Minister.
• Agaf Modiin (Military Intelligence):Bio: Military Intelligence. This service is primarily responsible for strategic military intelligence and communications intelligence. It operates under the command of the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces.
• Prime Minister (of Israel):Bio: The head of government in Israel, to whom both Mossad and Shin Beth are directly subordinate, indicating significant oversight and control.
• Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces:Bio: The highest-ranking military officer in Israel, under whose command Military Intelligence operates.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs:Bio: A government ministry that provides support in research and political planning to the broader Israeli intelligence community.
• Ministry of the Interior:Bio: A government ministry that assists the National Police with police investigations and is involved in the maintenance of border security.
• National Police:Bio: The national law enforcement agency in Israel, receiving assistance from the Ministry of the Interior for investigations and border security.
• CIA (Central Intelligence Agency – Directorate of Operations Counterintelligence Staff):Bio: A primary intelligence agency of the United States federal government, responsible for collecting, analyzing, evaluating, and disseminating foreign intelligence. In this context, they co-authored the March 1979 report on Israeli services.
• Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA):Bio: An intelligence agency of the United States federal government specializing in defense and military intelligence. They co-authored the March 1979 report on Israeli services.

Mossad – Shin Beth: Israel Foreign Intelligence and Security Services History CIA File

A 47-page March 1979 report by the CIA’s Directorate of Operations Counterintelligence Staff and the Defense intelligence Agency, titled, “Israel Foreign Intelligence and Security Services.”

The study covers the Mossad (Secret Intelligence Service), Shin-Beth (Counterespionage and Internal Security Service) and military Intelligence. The study reviews their functions, organization, administrative practices, methods of operation, and relations with each other.

The report reviews the background and development of the Israeli security services; the relationship between the government, the services, and the populace; professional standards, morale and disciplinary standards.

Abstract: Israel’s principal intelligence and security authority is the ‘Va’adat Rashet Hasherutim’ (The Committee of the Heads of Services), general known as Va’adat. It coordinates the operations and activities of its members. ‘Mossad Letafkidim Meyouchadim’ (The Secret Intelligence Service) or Mossad, its common name, has the primary responsibility for foreign operations and is subordinate to the Prime Minister. ‘Sherut Bitachon Klalt’ (Counterespionage and Internal Security), popularly known as Shin Beth, is responsible for security and is directly subordinate to the Prime Minister. ‘Agaf Modiin’ (Military Intelligence) has the main responsibility for strategic military intelligence and communications intelligence and is under the command of the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides support in research and political planning to the Israel intelligence community. The Ministry of the Interior assists the National Police with police investigations and the maintenance of border security.