Mossad is one of the main entities in the Israeli Intelligence Community, along with Aman (military intelligence) and Shin Bet (internal security). Mossad is responsible for intelligence collection, covert operations, and counter-terrorism.
The director of Mossad answers directly and only to the Prime Minister. The organization has annual budget of estimated $2.7 billion. Some experts believe it employs around 7,000 people directly, making it one of the world’s largest espionage agencies.
And unlike any other security bodies in the Israeli Army, the purpose, objectives, roles, missions, and anything else related to Mossad has not been defined by any law.
Mossad was formed on December 13, 1949, as the Central Institute for Coordination at the recommendation of Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion to Reuven Shiloah. Ben Gurion wanted a central body to coordinate and improve cooperation between the existing security services—the army’s intelligence department (AMAN), the Internal Security Service (Shin Bet), and the foreign office’s “political department”. In March 1951, it was reorganized and made a part of the prime minister’s office, reporting directly to the prime minister.
This documentary takes a look at some of the secrets of the service.
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