Black Cube and the Israeli state
| Black Cube and the Israeli state
| |
|---|---|
| Type | Relationship between a private intelligence firm and Israeli government bodies: contracts, grants, regulation and alleged targeting of officials |
| Date | 2011 – present |
| Location | Israel |
| Participants | Black Cube; Israeli Ministry of Defence and IDF Military Intelligence (Aman); Economy Ministry (Office of the Chief Scientist); Diaspora Affairs Ministry |
| Outcome | The Defence Ministry acknowledged hiring Black Cube in 2012–14. In 2024 the Diaspora Affairs Minister discussed a possible operation against a US student group, which was dropped |
Black Cube and the Israeli state covers the documented links between the private intelligence firm Black Cube and Israeli government bodies. The Defence Ministry hired the firm in 2012–14 and let it work from a military intelligence base. The firm applied for an Economy Ministry grant for dual-use military technology, and in 2024 a cabinet minister discussed using it against a pro-Palestinian US student group. Black Cube describes itself as a purely private company. Some reporting also has it working against Israeli officials on behalf of private clients.
Black Cube markets itself as "a select group of veterans from Israeli elite intelligence units".[1] Its late honorary president was the former Mossad director Meir Dagan, and its advisory board has included another former Mossad head, Efraim Halevi, the former national security adviser Giora Eiland and the former police commissioner Yohanan Danino.[2][3] The firm says it is a private entity with no ties to the Israeli government. Responsible Statecraft, a critical outlet, argues that "the line is somewhat blurred".[4]
Documented links
| # | Year(s) | Body | Relationship | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011–13 | Economy Ministry, Office of the Chief Scientist | With Vincent Tchenguiz's support, Black Cube applied for a Magnet/Meimad grant, a programme for dual-use military and civilian technology aimed at export. Tchenguiz withdrew his support in 2013. The ministry would not say whether a grant was paid | [5] |
| 2 | 2012–14 | Ministry of Defence; IDF Military Intelligence | The IDF and Defence Ministry spokespeople acknowledged that the ministry hired Black Cube for intelligence projects. Haaretz reported that the firm was allowed to operate from a Military Intelligence base | [6][5] |
| 3 | 2017 | Ministry of Defence (export control) | Asked by MK Tamar Zandberg (Meretz) whether Black Cube held a military export licence, an adviser to Defence Minister Avigdor Liberman replied that the ministry had asked the firm whether it exported military products or know-how. Black Cube said it did not, and the ministry concluded the law did not apply to it | [5] |
| 4 | 2017 | Israel Police | In November 2017 the Israeli Bureau of Private Investigators complained to police that Black Cube was conducting private investigations without a licence and gathering evidence in Israel by illegal means. Black Cube denied it. The police would neither confirm nor deny an investigation | [5] |
| 5 | 2024 | Diaspora Affairs Ministry | In late June 2024 Minister Amichai Chikli met chief executive Dan Zorella and adviser Giora Eiland at a home in Herzliya, with the ministry's director general Avi Cohen-Scali, to discuss a possible investigation of Students for Justice in Palestine. The probe was dropped for fear of damaging US–Israel relations | [1][7] |
The Defence Ministry contract
Haaretz reported in August 2019 that the Defence Ministry had hired Black Cube between 2012 and 2014. It reported that around the same time the firm was offering other clients to spy on former ministers and government officials.[6] The Times of Israel had noted in 2018 that weekly reports Black Cube prepared for Tchenguiz in 2012, filed in a lawsuit, suggested the ministry "may have even been a client".[5]
Students for Justice in Palestine (2024)
According to TheMarker, cited by Haaretz and the Times of Israel, three sources said the ministry had approached Black Cube. The ministry said the firm had initiated the meeting.[1][7] Black Cube said: "Black Cube does not act, and never planned to act, against students or political protest groups in the US."[1]
Work against Israeli officials
Black Cube has also been reported working for private clients against Israeli officials:
- Ofer and Lapid (2014). In June 2019 Uvda alleged that the tycoon Idan Ofer hired Black Cube in 2014 to look for damaging material on the then finance minister Yair Lapid and other officials involved in natural-gas tax policy. Ofer's spokesman confirmed a brief contract but said the information was gathered from public sources and was not used.[8][9]
- Bezeq reform (2014). The same programme alleged that Bezeq had used Black Cube agents to try to discredit a consultancy hired by the Communications Ministry for its 2014 wholesale market reform.[8]
- Black Cube's denial. The firm denied both allegations. It said it "would never approach a minister or a person in an official position" and had never targeted politicians, judges or regulators.[8]
Criticism
- Zandberg. In 2017 Tamar Zandberg wrote that "Black Cube is part of an entire Israeli industry that exports the weapons, security know-how and training of Israeli security forces", made possible "under the veil of extreme secretiveness justified by the prestigious halo of 'security'".[5]
- Barnea. Dr Avner Barnea, chairman of the Israeli Forum of Competitive Intelligence, said impersonation is a crime in Israel punishable by up to five years in prison, "But many of these companies do this", and that "There is no law enforcement in Israel, so companies can do anything they want".[5]
- Responsible Statecraft. Writing on the Slovenian affair, Responsible Statecraft pointed to the 2024 Chikli meeting as evidence of blurred lines between Black Cube and the state.[4]
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 ToI Staff, Minister, Black Cube CEO discussed probing Students for Justice in Palestine – report, Times of Israel, 8 August 2024.
- ↑ Hadas Magen, Black Cube - a "Mossad-style" business intelligence co, Globes, 2 April 2017.
- ↑ Borut Mekina, Achiya Schatz, Filip Dobranić and Nika Kovač, How Israelis met with Janez Janša (English version of the 8 March Institute investigation report), Mladina, 16 March 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Eldar Mamedov, 'Private Mossad' goes after pro-Palestinian leader in Slovenia, Responsible Statecraft (critical; analysis and opinion), 30 March 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 ToI Staff, Cambridge Analytica-linked businessman helped start Black Cube, lawsuit claims, Times of Israel, 23 August 2018.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Gur Megiddo, Israel Hired Black Cube, Allowing Spy Firm to Operate Out of Military Intel Base, Haaretz, 22 August 2019 (subscription).
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Gur Megiddo, Israeli Minister Held Talks With Black Cube About Spying on Pro-Palestinian U.S. Student Group, Haaretz, 7 August 2024 (subscription).
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 ToI Staff, Secretive Black Cube sues Israeli investigative journalist for $19 million, Times of Israel, 7 June 2019.
- ↑ Ora Coren, Israeli Tycoon Hired Spy Firm to Get Dirt on Finance Minister, Report Says, Haaretz, 4 June 2019 (subscription).