|
Israel
INTELLIGENCE SERVICES
Many observers regarded Israel's intelligence community as among
the most professional and effective in the world and as a leading
factor in Israel's success in the conflict with the Arab states.
Its missions encompassed not only the main task of ascertaining
plans and strengths of the Arab military forces opposing Israel
but also the work of combating Arab terrorism abroad, collecting
sensitive technical data, and conducting political liaison and
propaganda operations.
The intelligence community had four separate components, each
with distinct objectives. The Central Institute for Intelligence
and Special Missions (Mossad Merkazi Le Modiin Uletafkidim Meyuhadim--commonly
known as Mossad) had a mission analogous to that of the United
States Central Intelligence Agency, being responsible for intelligence
gathering and operations in foreign countries. The General Security
Service (Sherut Bitahon Kelali--commonly known as Shin Bet or
Shabak) controlled internal security and, after 1967, intelligence
within the occupied territories. The prime minister supervised
Mossad and Shin Bet. Military intelligence, the Intelligence Branch
of the general staff (Agaf Modiin--known as Aman), had responsibility
for collection of military, geographic, and economic intelligence,
particularly within the Arab world and along Israel's borders.
Military intelligence was under the jurisdiction of the minister
of defense, acting through the chief of staff. The Center for
Research and Strategic Planning, formerly the Research Division
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, prepared analyses for government
policy makers based on raw intelligence as well as longer analytical
papers.
Data as of December 1988
|
