Yuval Diskin

Yuval Diskin is the former head of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet).

A February 2006 cable between Diskin and Us Ambassador Richard H. Jones records the following exchange:

(S) Diskin called the contradictory statements of various Hamas leaders -- sometimes moderate, sometimes extreme --"dialectical declarations." The Ambassador responded that these perceived differences could be designed to split the international community. Diskin predicted that we will soon see UK efforts to establish contacts with Hamas figures. Already, he claimed, representatives of Mohammed Abu Tair, who was elected as the number-two member of the Hamas-affiliated "change and reform" list, have been in contact with "higher echelons in the UK." (Comment: Diskin did not indicate which party -- Hamas or HMG may have initiated contact. End Comment.)

External Resources

• Isa Chief Diskin: Hamas On The Horizon, US Embassy Tel Aviv, 16 February 2006, unredacted publication by wikileaks, 8 September 2012.
• US embassy cables: US discusses Gaza with Israeli security chief, guardian.co.uk, cable dated, 4 October 2006, Guardian publication, 7 April 2011 (Wikileaks version).
• Frances Townsend's November 12 Meeting With Isa Chief Diskin Focuses On The Palestinians, US Embassy Tel Aviv, 24 November 2006, unredacted version published by Wikileaks, 8 September 2011.
• Ambassador Jones' December 24 Meeting With Isa Chief Diskin, US Embassy Tel Aviv, 28 December 2007,published by Wikileaks, 1 September 2011.
• US embassy cables: US talks to Israeli security chief about Arabs and Gaza, guardian.co.uk, cable dated 22 May 2008, Guardian publication, 7 April 2011. (Wikileaks version)
• Shin Bet Chief On Goi-pa Security Cooperation, Us Embassy Tel Aviv, cable dated 8 January 2010, wikileaks unredacted publication 8 September 2011
• Barak Ravid, Former Shin Bet chief: Netanyahu not interested in peace talks, Haaretz, 28 April 2012.