Israel blasts report it planted spy devices near White House as fake news

www.foxnews.com...

Israel blasts report it planted spy devices near White House as 'fake news spiced with anti-Semitism'

Current and former Israeli officials are pushing back hard Thursday on an explosive report claiming their country planted spy devices near the White House and other locations in Washington, D.C., calling it “fake news spiced with anti-Semitism” and “absolute nonsense.”

Yay
More allegations that our "allies" are doing things in our "best interests".
Whoo hoo!

The exposé from Politico, based on interviews with former senior U.S. officials familiar with the matter, stated that the government believes Israel planted cellphone surveillance devices in the nation’s capital over the past few years. The U.S., following a forensic analysis, determined that agents from Israel most likely brought them here, it added.

Cell phone surveillance.....great.....
"agents from Israel" brought them here...
Thought they were on our side????

“It was pretty clear that the Israelis were responsible,” a former senior intelligence official told Politico.

Well now, if that is the case seem like our "allies" have some explaining to do?

Amos Yadlin, the former head of the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate, reportedly posted on Twitter that the Politico story is "fake news spiced with anti-Semitism” and that for decades, Israel has banned spying on the U.S.

All right the good ole "fake news" excuse; and an accusation of "anti-semitism" for good measure.
Checking all the boxes today.

A Haaretz reporter traveling with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also attributed his office as calling the news a "blatant lie." Like Yadlin’s comments, the office said the Israeli government has a directive not to engage in intelligence operations on U.S. soil.

A "blatant lie" eh?
Now I am confused.....is spying banned as reported or just on "u.s. soil"?
Tricky....

The report alleges Israel planted small devices that mimic the actions of cellphone towers, tricking phones into handing over their locations, call contents and data use.

One of the officials who spoke to Politico said the forensic analysis of the devices – which was carried out by the FBI and other relevant agencies – focused on “where the parts and pieces [came] from, how old are they” and “who had access to them.” The U.S. government’s conclusion that Israel planted the devices was made sometime between 2018 and now, the report also said.

Our "allies" spying on us is disgusting if true. If they are spying are they really our "allies"?

Our "allies" spying on us is disgusting if true. If they are spying are they really our "allies"?

Blunt truth is that all countries spy on other countries, even those considered "allies".

Remember when Merkel got her nose bent out of joint because she found the USA was listening in on her telephone calls? Oh, the German media was all over that! Somehow, though, they are less apt to report on the activities of the "German NSA" at a place called Bad Aibling ...

I find the instances with the Israelis more galling than others simply because we've shored up their existence so many times. The bottom line is their government has plenty of jerks ... as all governments do.

My guess is the way these things are actually resolved is the governments sit down and the offender is asked what they can provide in the way of services or information to "make it all good again".

Cheers

a reply to: F2d5thCavv2

Another blunt truth. Any time Israel gets called out on some of it's bull#, it's "antisemitism". That # has really lost it's weight.

a reply to: F2d5thCavv2

Blunt truth is that all countries spy on other countries, even those considered "allies".

I understand, but that doesn't make it any more palatable when discovered.
If we are going to get all wound up about "russia", why is this any different?

Remember when Merkel got her nose bent out of joint because she found the USA was listening in on her telephone calls? Oh, the German media was all over that! Somehow, though, they are less apt to report on the activities of the "German NSA" at a place called Bad Aibling ...

It doesn't make it any better when we do it.

originally posted by: Antipathy17
a reply to: F2d5thCavv2

Another blunt truth. Any time Israel gets called out on some of it's bull#, it's "antisemitism". That # has really lost it's weight.

yeah that term is losing its weight
calling out your wrong doing is not anti semitic

a reply to: F2d5thCavv2

Just about to bring up that very point with us spying over in Europe.

We spy on other countries citizens and leaders, and vise versa... It is what it is. If I find out it happened here, I won't be thrilled, but if it's not really doing something to seriously harm us, than I understand it's part of the game. Jonathan Pollard is the only American given life in prison for passing information to an ally (Israel), they've shown they're willing to do it... So don't scream anti-semite when someone alleges it is going on again. It's just as tired as people trying to stifle discussion with bigot or racist.

a reply to: shooterbrody

There are lots of things to consider here.

First, this information is being brought to us by THREE FORMER intelligence officials. As far as we know, these could be officials who have already been fired.

Secondly, this information was sent to Democrat Senator, Ron Wyden of Oregon and has since been released to the media. Why was this information presented to him first?

www.wyden.senate.gov...

What do we know about this national security official who wrote this letter to Senator Wyden?

Prior to coming to DHS, he was a member of Microsoft’s U.S. Government Affairs team as the Director for Cybersecurity Policy, where he led Microsoft’s U.S. policy work on cybersecurity and technology issues.

www.dhs.gov...

a reply to: Deetermined

First, this information is being brought to us by THREE FORMER intelligence officials. As far as we know, these could be officials who have already been fired.

Absolutely, that has to be weighed with the recent track record of media outlets.

That said, they're allegations... The media and society are allowed to discuss allegations of something (that's happened before) without it being discriminatory or bigoted.

Seriously????

We do it.
The Israelis do it.
Every nation with the capability does it to every other nation.

To believe otherwise is naive.

Nothing new, IMO

a reply to: Mach2

Nothing new, IMO

Seems business as usual to me.

Israel with arguably one of, if not the best spy agencies allegedly gets caught spying ✔

It's an ally, and no one really seems to be freaking out, just discussing it ✔

Israel cries foul and calls people humoring allegations as possible anti-semetic ✔


Feels as normal of a Thursday as any.

a reply to: Deetermined
www.newsweek.com...

WHO IS TRACKING D.C. CELL PHONES? HOMELAND SECURITY CONFIRMS FINDING SURVEILLANCE DEVICES IN WASHINGTON

this isn't a new issue; the perp being revealed is the only new part

An undisclosed number of surveillance devices known as "Stingrays"—used to track and intercept smartphone communications by posing as legitimate cell towers—are suspected to be in operation across Washington D.C., leading to fears foreign governments are using them to snoop on the capitol.

www.apnews.com...

For the first time, the U.S. government has publicly acknowledged the existence in Washington of what appear to be rogue devices that foreign spies and criminals could be using to track individual cellphones and intercept calls and messages.

This is a real issue.
If it is our "allies" it is all the more disgusting.

a reply to: shooterbrody

RE: "blasts"

The Israelis are now planting bombs in the US. Great.

a reply to: CriticalStinker

That said, they're allegations... The media and society are allowed to discuss allegations of something (that's happened before) without it being discriminatory or bigoted.

This letter dates back to May 2018, but we're just now hearing about it, right after the anniversary of 911.

I think the timing is to distract from focusing on Islamic issues in the Middle East.

a reply to: Deetermined

I think the timing is to distract from focusing on Islamic issues in the Middle East.

6~ trillion dollars and a US conflict in 7 countries post 9/11 says otherwise.


Don't worry bud, no one is forgetting the Middle East, except Saudi Arabia, they're our friends and don't ever forget that. Also, they're gonna need another check for some missiles and what not next month.... And if it's not too much to ask, they'd like to revisit us assisting them with launching a nuclear energy program.... lol.

originally posted by: dfnj2015
a reply to: shooterbrody

RE: "blasts"

The Israelis are now planting bombs in the US. Great.

exclamationINFORMAL•BRITISH expressing annoyance. "“Blast! The car won't start!”"

INFORMAL criticize fiercely. "the school was blasted by government inspectors"

no bombs

a reply to: shooterbrody

Stingrays have been known to be operating in DC for some time. We also have known that no domestic LEO was claiming it was theirs, leaving it to be operated by the CIA, rogue actors, or foreign actor(s).

a reply to: shooterbrody

this isn't a new issue; the perp being revealed is the only new part

And that is an interesting bit. Offhand, it sounds like diplomatic attempts to resolve this out of public sight were not satisfactory. So now the pressure is being jacked up a bit.

Yeah, I hear you about this kind of thing being galling. All relations between countries are basically void of anything like real friendship. Even with countries like the U.K., any deals we set up are strictly quid pro quo. There is -never- anything like, "gee, we see you're good guys, so this one is a freebie" ... everyone wants their cut.

Cheers

a reply to: F2d5thCavv2

Yeah, I hear you about this kind of thing being galling. All relations between countries are basically void of anything like real friendship. Even with countries like the U.K., any deals we set up are strictly quid pro quo. There is -never- anything like, "gee, we see you're good guys, so this one is a freebie" ... everyone wants their cut.

Which is basically the framework behind the Five Eyes spy apparatus.

originally posted by: CriticalStinker
a reply to: shooterbrody

Stingrays have been known to be operating in DC for some time. We also have known that no domestic LEO was claiming it was theirs, leaving it to be operated by the CIA, rogue actors, or foreign actor(s).

yeah I posted links to the stories from 18 about it
no one was named in those tho

a reply to: CriticalStinker

Similar to when ppl "freak out" over election meddling by foreign entities, as if the US is above such things.

The US goverment has done more to influence regime change than any other country in history.

Don't get me wrong, somethimes (usually not) the means justify the ends, but to pretend otherwise, and feign outrage is ludicrous.