Shin Bet
The Israel Security Agency or General Security Agency, known in Hebrew as Shabak (an abbreviation for Sherut ha-Bitachon ha-Klali) or Shin Bet, is the Israeli counterintelligence and internal security service.[1]
Contents
Structure and Personnel
Shin Bet has three operational departments and five for operational support.[2]
Directors
- Isser Harel 1948-52
- Izi Dorot 1952-53
- Amos Manor 1953-63
- Yosef Harmelin 1964-74, 1986-88
- Avraham Ahituv 1974-80
- Avraham Ben-Dor 1980-86
- Yaakov Peri 1988-94
- Carmi Gillon 1995-96
- Ami Ayalon 1996-2000
- Avi Dichter 2000-05[3]
- Yuval Diskin 2005[4]-2011
- Yoram Cohen 2011-[5]
Deputy Directors
- Amos Manor 1952-1953[6]
- Yosef Harmelin 1960-1964.[7]
- Reuven Hazak c.1985.[8]
- Yaakov Peri 1987-1988[9]
- Avi Dichter 1999-2000.[10]
Operations Division
According to journalists Dan Raviv and Yossi Melman, the Operations Division in the early years of Shin Bet had three departments, Arab Affairs, Non-Arab Affairs, and Protective Security.[11] Given Avraham Ben-Dor's move from head of operations to head of security in 1972, it is possible that security became an independent division at some point. [12]
- Avraham Ben-Dor 1959-c.1972[12]
Arab Affairs
The department of Arab Affairs is responsible for counter-terrorism, counter-subversion and monitoring 'Arab militants'. Its Henza detachments work with Aman Mista'averim units in occupied territories and some neighboring states.[2]
- Avraham Ahituv, head c.1967.[13]
Non-Arab Affairs
The department of Non-Arab Affairs has a wider counter-intelligence role which includes monitoring immigrants and foreign diplomatic missions.[2] At one time its was divided into communist and non-communist departments.[14] It's role includes responsibility for the Jewish Division.[15]
- Amos Manor, head c.1950.[6]
- "K" - c.2010.[16]
Jewish Division
The Jewish division is responsible for investigating subversive activity by far right Jewish militants.[17]
- Avigdor Arieli - alleged to be head of the Jewish Division c.2010.[18]
Protective Security
The protective security department is responsible for protecting strategic infrastructure and for the El Al airline.[2]
- Avraham Ben-Dor 1972-c.1980[12]
- Peleg Radai c.1985.[8]
- Avi Dichter 1996-1999.[10]
- Doron Bergerbest c.2004.[19]
Support Divisions
Support branch departments have included administration, interrogation and legal counsel, technology, co-ordination and planning, and logistics.[11]
Administrative Division
- Carmi Gillon 1993-1994.[20]
Training Division
- Yaakov Peri, head 1975-1978.[9]
Other Staff
- Reuven Paz former head of Research
- Alan Moss - head of international relations, c.2009.[21]
- Col. Nir Press - Shin Bet attendee, Rafah Security Working Group, 2007.[22]
- "Shimon" - advisor to NSC Counterterrorism Bureau Director General, c.2006.[23]
- Szymon Rosenberg, Shin Bet representative at 2006 meeting between National Security Advisor and US diplomat Henry Crumpton. [24]
- Arnon Vinceze - liaison officer, c.2004.[25]
- Ilan Kosanivich - liaison officer, c.2004.[25]
External Resources
- BBC Online Profile: Israel's Shin Bet agency Wednesday, 30 January, 2002, 14:41 GMT.
- Palestinian And Israeli Security Cooperation, US Embassy Tel Aviv, 1 November 2006, published by Wikileaks, 1 September 2011.
- Idf Southern Command And Shin Bet Briefings On Gaza For Codel Gillibrand, Us Embassy Tel Aviv, 16 September 2009, published by Wikileaks, 1 September 2011.
- Israeli Security Services Arrest "jewish Terrorist", US Embassy, 2 November 2009, published by Wikileaks, 1 September 2011.
- Hamas Facing Severe Funding Shortages, US Embassy Tel Aviv, 6 November 2009, published by Wikileaks, 1 September 2011.
- Six Palestinian Authority Intelligence Personnel Detained, Then Released By Idf, US Consulate Jerusalem, 23 November 2009, published by Wikileaks, 1 September 2011.
- Israel Defends December 26 Nablus Raid, US Embassy Tel Aviv, 29 December 2009, published by Wikileaks, 1 September 2011.
- Shin Bet Talks Gaza Economics, US Embassy Tel Aviv, 22 February 2010, unredacted version published by Wikileaks, 8 September 1011.
- Amos Harel, Shin Bet applied 'legitimate' methods to probe Jewish terrorist, security sources say, Haaretz, 15 July 2010.
Notes
- ↑ Shabak/Shin Bet/Israel Security Agency/Sherut ha-Bitachon ha-Klali, Federation of American Scientists, accessed 9 May 2009.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Paul Todd and Jonathan Bloch, Global Intelligence: The World's Secret Services Today, Zed Books, 2003, p.153.
- ↑ ISA Directors Then and Now, ISA Security Agency (Shin Bet), accessed 9 April 2009.
- ↑ Yuval Diskin appointed ISA Director, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 10 February 2005.
- ↑ Netanyahu appoints Yoram Cohen as Israel's next Shin Bet chief, Haaretz, 28 March 2011.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Efrat Weiss, Former Shin Bet chief Amos Manor dies, age 89, Ynet, 5 August 2007.
- ↑ Yosef Harmelin, Israel Security Agency, accessed 24 July 2012.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, Every Spy a Prince: The Secret History of Israel's Intelligence Community, Houghton Mifflin, 1991, p.284.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Yaakov Peri, Israel Security Agency, accessed 24 July 2012.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Avid Dichter, Israel Security Agency, accessed 24 July 2012
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, Every Spy a Prince: The Secret History of Israel's Intelligence Community, Houghton Mifflin, 1991, p.50.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Avraham (Shalom) Ben-Dor , Israel Security Agency, accessed 24 July 2012.
- ↑ Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, Every Spy a Prince: The Secret History of Israel's Intelligence Community, Houghton Mifflin, 1991, p.169.
- ↑ Profile: Israel's Shin Bet agency Wednesday, 30 January, 2002.
- ↑ Tomer Zarchin and Amos Harel, Shin Bet deputy suspended for role in lover's promotion, Haaretz, 9 June 2010.
- ↑ Tomer Zarchin and Amos Harel, Shin Bet deputy suspended for role in lover's promotion, Haaretz, 9 June 2010.
- ↑ J.J. Goldberg, IDF Probe: Troops' Hands Tied Controlling Rightist Jewish Extremism, forward.com, 27 June 2011.
- ↑ Richard Silverstein, Jewish Terrorist, Charged With Multiple Palestinian Murders, ‘Outs’ Chief of Shin Bet’s Jewish Terror Department, Tikun Olam, 16 July 2010.
- ↑ Israeli Security Services Tell Codel Talent That Interagency Connectivity Is Key In The Fight Against Terror, US Embassy Tel Aviv, 21 December 2004, published by Wikileaks, 1 September 2011.
- ↑ Carmi Gillon, Israel Security Agency, accessed 24 July 2012.
- ↑ Deputy Secretary Raises Transit Of Gaza Students With Shin Bet: Followup, US Embassy Tel Aviv, 11 December 2009, published by Wikileaks, 1 September 2011.
- ↑ Rafah Security Working Group Meeting, US Consulate Jerusalem, 19 April 2007, published by Wikileaks, 1 September 2011.
- ↑ Israeli Ct Officials Discuss Israel-hizballah War, U.s.-israel Ct Cooperation, US Embassy Tel Aviv, 19 September 2006, unredacted publication by Wikileaks, 8 September 2011.
- ↑ Jcg: Israel Nsc's 2/23 Session With S/ct Amb. Crumpton, US Embassy Tel Aviv, 17 March, 2006, unredacted publication by Wikileaks, 8 September 2011.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Goi Info On Ramallah Bank Raid, US Embassy Tel Aviv, 5 March 2004, published by Wikileaks, 1 September 2011.