posted on Jul, 24 2004 @ 07:08 AM
The Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, otherwise known as 'Mossad' has been appointed by the State of Israel to collect
information, analyze intelligence and perform special covert operations beyond its borders.
"Where no counsel is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety"
Proverbs XI/14
Mossad
When the State of Israel was declared, David Ben Gurion, Israel�s first Prime Minister, voiced his views on the establishment of intelligence agencies
to operate on behalf of the nascent state. On 7 June 1948, he held his first meeting on this matter with intelligence officials.
On 13 December 1949, following detailed staff work, David Ben Gurion appointed foreign ministry special operations� adviser and former Jewish Agency
state department official Reuben Shiloah, to establish and head the �Institute for Collating and Co-ordinating Intelligence Operations�. This date is
considered the date the Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations was established.
On 2 March 1951, as a result of the experience gained in running State intelligence agencies, particularly in overseas� operations, Ben Gurion ordered
Reuben Shiloah to set up the �Directorate�, within the Institute for Coordination, to take all overseas intelligence operations under its wing. The
foreign ministry and, to a lesser extent, other agencies had hitherto operated abroad.
The �Directorate� was the initial incarnation of the main collection unit in the Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations. In 1952, Reuben
Shiloah retired and General Security Agency chief Isser Harel was appointed in his stead. He served as Mossad Director until 1963. The two founders
shaped the Mossad to address the reality and the needs of the State of Israel in its early years.
Over the years the Mossad expanded into many fields (the most prominent of which were):
Covert intelligence gathering beyond Israel�s borders.
Developing and maintaining special diplomatic and other covert relations.
Preventing the development and procurement of non-conventional weapons by hostile countries.
Preventing terrorist acts against Israeli targets abroad.
Bringing Jews home from countries where official Aliya agencies are not allowed to operate.
Producing strategic, political and operational intelligence.
Planning and carrying out special operations beyond Israel�s borders.
Some of the Mossad�s operations include:
Pursuing Nazi war criminals, culminating in the capture of Adolf Eichmann and bringing him to justice in Israel.
Locating and returning to his family Yossele Shumacher, a small boy who was kidnapped in Israel and spirited abroad.
Bringing home the Ethiopian Jews.
Rebekka