The Mossad

Directors

Meir Dagan, 2002-Present
Ephraim Halevy, 1998-2002
Danny Yatom, 1996-1998
Shabtai Shavit, 1990-1996
Nahum Admoni, 1982-1990

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High Profile Operations

The Mosad (Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations) is an Israeli intelligence agency, often referred to as Mossad (in English: Institution). It is responsible for intelligence collection, counter-terrorism, and covert action, including paramilitary activities. It is one of the three main Intelligence Community entities in Israel, alongside Aman (military intelligence) and Shabak (internal security). Its role and function is analagous to that of the CIA (USA) and the MI6 (UK).

The Mossad is responsible for a series of high-profile operations... (High Profile Operations)

The Mossad was formed in December 1949 as the "Central Institute for Coordination", at the recommendation of Reuven Shiloah to Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion. Shiloah wanted a central body to coordinate and improve cooperation between the existing security services — the army's intelligence department (AMAN), the General Security Service (GSS or "Shabak") and the foreign offices "political department". In March 1951, it was reorganized and made a part of the prime minister's office, reporting directly to the prime minister. Its current staff is estimated at approximately 1,200. Its motto is be-'éyn tahbūlōt yīpōl `ām; ū-teshū`āh be-rōv yo'éts (Hebrew: באין תחבולות יפול עם, ותשועה ברוב יועץ, "Where no counsel is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." - Proverbs XI, 14)

Mossad is headquartered in Tel Aviv and has eight departments:

* Collections Department is the largest, with responsibility for espionage operations.

* Political Action and Liaison Department conducts political activities and liaison with friendly foreign intelligence services and with nations with which Israel does not have normal diplomatic relations.

* Special Operations Division (Metsada) conducts assassination, sabotage, and paramilitary projects.

* LAP (Lohamah Psichologit) Department is responsible for psychological warfare, propaganda and deception operations.

* Research Department is responsible for intelligence synthesis.

* Technology Department is responsible for development of technologies to support Mossad operations.

Mossad is a civilian service, and does not use military ranks, although most of its staff have served in the Israel Defense Forces as part of Israel's compulsory draft system, and many of them are officers.