Shin Bet

The Israel Security Agency (ISA) 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.Shabak/Shin Bet/Israel Security Agency/Sherut ha-Bitachon ha-Klali, Federation of American Scientists, accessed 9 May 2009.
==History==
The Shin Bet was founded as Israel's domestic security service in June 1948, when the new state's intelligence community was organised out of Shai, the intelligence wing of the Haganah militia.Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, Every Spy a Prince: The Secret History of Israel's Intelligence Community, Houghton Mifflin, 1991, pp.16-18.
A meeting of the Varash committee of intelligence chiefs on 19 June 1967 gave Shin Bet responsibility for internal security in the occupied territories conquered in the Six Day War.Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, Every Spy a Prince: The Secret History of Israel's Intelligence Community, Houghton Mifflin, 1991, p.168.
===Bus 300 Affair===
In 1984, two detained Palestinian hijackers were beaten to death by agents in what became known as the Bus 300 Affair. A government report later revealed that the Shin Bet chief at the time, Avraham Shalom, had ordered the two Palestinians killed and them attempted to cover this up.Profile: Israel's Shin Bet agency Wednesday, 30 January, 2002.
===Izzat Nafsu case===
In 1987, Shin Bet was found to have extracted a false confession of espionage from an Israeli army officer Izzat Nafsu, who had been imprisoned for 18 years.Profile: Israel's Shin Bet agency Wednesday, 30 January, 2002.
===Landau Commission===
Following the Nafsu case a Commission was appointed under supreme court judge Moshe Landau to investigate the intelligence community and its methods. While the committee was deliberating a palestinian prisoner, Awad Hamdan, died in his cell under Shin Bet interrogation.Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, Every Spy a Prince: The Secret History of Israel's Intelligence Community, Houghton Mifflin, 1991, p.296.
The Commission found that Shin Bet had used "physical pressure" as a matter of course in the occupied territories, and had routinely lied to the courts during the directorships of Yosef Harmelin, Avraham Ahituv and Avraham Shalom.Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, Every Spy a Prince: The Secret History of Israel's Intelligence Community, Houghton Mifflin, 1991, p.297.
===Rabin Assassination===
Following the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin by a right-wing extremist in 1995, the head of Shin Bet, Carmi Gillon resigned.Profile: Israel's Shin Bet agency Wednesday, 30 January, 2002. A Shin Bet agent inside the right-wing, Avishai Raviv, was later acquitted of failing to prevent the assassination.Moshe Reinfeld, Avishai Raviv acquitted of having failed to prevent Rabin assassination, Haaretz, 30 July 2013.
==Structure and Personnel==
Shin Bet has three operational departments and five for operational support.Paul Todd and Jonathan Bloch, Global Intelligence: The World's Secret Services Today, Zed Books, 2003, p.153.
===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 2000-05ISA Directors Then and Now, ISA Security Agency (Shin Bet), accessed 9 April 2009.
*Yuval Diskin 2005Yuval Diskin appointed ISA Director, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 10 February 2005.-2011
*Yoram Cohen 2011-Netanyahu appoints Yoram Cohen as Israel's next Shin Bet chief, Haaretz, 28 March 2011.
===Deputy Directors===
*Amos Manor 1952-1953Efrat Weiss, Former Shin Bet chief Amos Manor dies, age 89, Ynet, 5 August 2007.
*Yosef Harmelin 1960-1964.Yosef Harmelin, Israel Security Agency, accessed 24 July 2012.
*Reuven Hazak c.1985.Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, Every Spy a Prince: The Secret History of Israel's Intelligence Community, Houghton Mifflin, 1991, p.284.
*Yossi Ginossar c.1987.Ephraim Kahana, 'Historical Dictionary of Israeli intelligence', Scarecrow Press, 2006, p.100.
*Yaakov Peri 1987-1988Yaakov Peri, Israel Security Agency, accessed 24 July 2012.
*Gideon Ezra 1994-95.Lahav Harkov, Kadima MK Gideon Ezra dies of lung cancer at 74, Jerusalem Post, 17 May 2012.
*Israel Hasson 1997-1999.
*Avi Dichter 1999-2000.Avid Dichter, Israel Security Agency, accessed 24 July 2012
*Yuval Diskin 2000-03.
*Offer Dekel c.2005.
*Nadav Argaman c.2013Richard Silverstein, Deputy Shin Bet, WMD Chiefs Named (and Their Favorite Beverages), Tikun Olam, 13 March 2013.
===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.Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, Every Spy a Prince: The Secret History of Israel's Intelligence Community, Houghton Mifflin, 1991, p.50. 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.
Avraham (Shalom) Ben-Dor , Israel Security Agency, accessed 24 July 2012.
*Rafi Eitan c.1952.
*Avraham Ben-Dor 1959-c.1972Avraham (Shalom) Ben-Dor , Israel Security Agency, accessed 24 July 2012.
*Uzi Berger - Date not known.Report of Internal GSS Committee on Rabin Assassination, 8 November 1985, archived by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
*Rafi Malka - Date not known.Report of Internal GSS Committee on Rabin Assassination, 8 November 1985, archived by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
*Ehud Yatom c.1984.Ephraim Kahana, 'Historical Dictionary of Israeli intelligence', Scarecrow Press, 2006, p.112.
====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.Paul Todd and Jonathan Bloch, Global Intelligence: The World's Secret Services Today, Zed Books, 2003, p.153.
*Avraham Ahituv, head c.1967.Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, Every Spy a Prince: The Secret History of Israel's Intelligence Community, Houghton Mifflin, 1991, p.169.
*Nachman Tal c.1980s.
*Yuval Diskin c.1994.
=====Counter-terrorism Department=====
*Yuval Diskin 1990-93.
====Non-Arab Affairs====
The department of Non-Arab Affairs has a wider counter-intelligence role which includes monitoring immigrants and foreign diplomatic missions.Paul Todd and Jonathan Bloch, Global Intelligence: The World's Secret Services Today, Zed Books, 2003, p.153. At one time its was divided into communist and non-communist departments.Profile: Israel's Shin Bet agency Wednesday, 30 January, 2002. It's role includes responsibility for the Jewish Division.Tomer Zarchin and Amos Harel, Shin Bet deputy suspended for role in lover's promotion, Haaretz, 9 June 2010.
*Amos Manor, head c.1950.Efrat Weiss, Former Shin Bet chief Amos Manor dies, age 89, Ynet, 5 August 2007.
*"K" - c.2010.Tomer Zarchin and Amos Harel, Shin Bet deputy suspended for role in lover's promotion, Haaretz, 9 June 2010.
=====Jewish Division=====
The Jewish division is responsible for investigating subversive activity by far right Jewish militants.J.J. Goldberg, IDF Probe: Troops' Hands Tied Controlling Rightist Jewish Extremism, forward.com, 27 June 2011.
*Carmi Gillon 1982-1987
*'D' -c.2000-05Mitch Ginsburg, Outwitted by a bunch of 12-year-olds, The Times of Israel', 19 June 2013.
*Avigdor Arieli - alleged to be head of the Jewish Division c.2010.Richard Silverstein, Jewish Terrorist, Charged With Multiple Palestinian Murders, ‘Outs’ Chief of Shin Bet’s Jewish Terror Department, Tikun Olam, 16 July 2010.
====Protective Security====
The protective security department is responsible for protecting strategic infrastructure and for the El Al airline.Paul Todd and Jonathan Bloch, Global Intelligence: The World's Secret Services Today, Zed Books, 2003, p.153.
=====Heads of Protective Security=====
*Avraham Ben-Dor 1972-c.1980Avraham (Shalom) Ben-Dor , Israel Security Agency, accessed 24 July 2012.
*Savinoam Avivi - Date not known.Report of Internal GSS Committee on Rabin Assassination, 8 November 1985, archived by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
*Peleg Radai c.1985.Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, Every Spy a Prince: The Secret History of Israel's Intelligence Community, Houghton Mifflin, 1991, p.284.
*Ehud Yatom.Alan Sipress, Two Hijackers Were Taken Alive. A Photo Proved It. Israeli's Account Of Killing Arabs Renews A Scandal, Philadelphia Inquirer, 13 August 1996.
*Dror Yitzhaki c.1995.Yossi Melman, Nothing succeeds like abject failure, Haaretz, 18 October 2002.
*Avi Dichter 1996-1999.Avid Dichter, Israel Security Agency, accessed 24 July 2012
*Doron Bergerbest c.2004.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.
=====Deputy Heads of Protective Security=====
*Jonathan SchohamLECTURES, Four Troop, accessed 29 July 2013.
*Eytan Ben-DavidVeteran Shin Bet official appointed Israel's head of Counter-Terrorism Bureau, BBC Monitoring International Reports, 2 March 2012, archived at accessmylibrary.com.
=====Heads of Protective Security in Europe=====
*Rafi Malka - Date not known.Report of Internal GSS Committee on Rabin Assassination, 8 November 1985, archived by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
*Eytan Ben-David - Date not known.Veteran Shin Bet official appointed Israel's head of Counter-Terrorism Bureau, BBC Monitoring International Reports, 2 March 2012, archived at accessmylibrary.com.
=====VIP Security Unit=====
*Benny Lahav - Head of VIP Security Unit c.1995.Yossi Melman, Nothing succeeds like abject failure, Haaretz, 18 October 2002.
*'A.T' - Head of the Unit c.1995.Yossi Melman, Nothing succeeds like abject failure, Haaretz, 18 October 2002.
*Shlomo Harnoy - Head c.2003.Shlomo Harnoy, Sdema Group, acccessed 28 July 2013.
*Eytan Ben-David - Head - Date not known.Veteran Shin Bet official appointed Israel's head of Counter-Terrorism Bureau, BBC Monitoring International Reports, 2 March 2012, archived at accessmylibrary.com.
*Haggai Tal Head of Operations c.1995.Yossi Melman, Nothing succeeds like abject failure, Haaretz, 18 October 2002.
*'A.E.' Head of Operations c.1995.Yossi Melman, Nothing succeeds like abject failure, Haaretz, 18 October 2002.
*Dror Mor - Deputy Head of the Operations Unit and Head of the Foreign Bureau.Dror Mor, Sdema Group, acccessed 28 July 2013.
=====El-Al Security=====
*Shmuel Sasson - former head of El-Al Security.LECTURES, Four Troop, accessed 29 July 2013.
*Eytan Ben-David - head - Date not known.Veteran Shin Bet official appointed Israel's head of Counter-Terrorism Bureau, BBC Monitoring International Reports, 2 March 2012, archived at accessmylibrary.com.
===Support Divisions===
Support branch departments have included administration, interrogation and legal counsel, technology, co-ordination and planning, and logistics.Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, Every Spy a Prince: The Secret History of Israel's Intelligence Community, Houghton Mifflin, 1991, p.50.
====Administrative Division====
*Rafi Malka Date not known.Report of Internal GSS Committee on Rabin Assassination, 8 November 1985, archived by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
*Ehud Yatom Date not known.Alan Sipress, Two Hijackers Were Taken Alive. A Photo Proved It. Israeli's Account Of Killing Arabs Renews A Scandal, Philadelphia Inquirer, 13 August 1996.
*Carmi Gillon 1993-1994.Carmi Gillon, Israel Security Agency, accessed 24 July 2012.
====Interrogation and Legal Counsel Division====
*Zvi Aharoni - head c.1956
*Victor Cohen - head c.1959
*'A' or 'Sheriff' - head c.1999.Yossi Melman, The 'torture police' - Every Shin Bet move is watched by its legal team, Haaretz, 12 June 2008.
*Arieh Livne - date unknown.Mitch Ginsburg, Israel should free 1,000 security prisoners, says ex-Shin Bet official, The Times of Israel, 10 June 2013.
====Legal Advisors====
*Shabtai Ziv - Chief legal advisor c.1999.Yossi Melman, The 'torture police' - Every Shin Bet move is watched by its legal team, Haaretz, 12 June 2008.
*Aryeh Roter - Chief legal advisor c.1999.Yossi Melman, The 'torture police' - Every Shin Bet move is watched by its legal team, Haaretz, 12 June 2008.
*Eli Bachar 
*Dani Geva
====Training Division====
*Yaakov Peri, head 1975-1978.Yaakov Peri, Israel Security Agency, accessed 24 July 2012.
*Carmi Gillon, head 1989-1990.
*'A.B' c.1995.Yossi Melman, Nothing succeeds like abject failure, Haaretz, 18 October 2002.
===Regional Commands===
====Northern Command====
*Yaakov Peri 1978-1981
*Carmi Gillon
====Central Command====
*Yaacov Caroz c.1951
*Possibly Avraham Ben-Dor 1952-1954
*Yehuda Arbel c.1967.
*Yaakov Peri 1981-1987
*Yuval Diskin 1997-2000.
*Offer Dekel c.2000.
====Southern Command====
*Nachman Tal c.1970s
*Avi Dichter 1992-1996
*Arieh Livne c.2001.
===Miscellaneous Staff===
*Reuven Paz former head of Research
*Alan Moss - head of international relations, c.2009.Deputy Secretary Raises Transit Of Gaza Students With Shin Bet: Followup, US Embassy Tel Aviv, 11 December 2009, published by Wikileaks, 1 September 2011.
*Col. Nir Press - Shin Bet attendee, Rafah Security Working Group, 2007.Rafah Security Working Group Meeting, US Consulate Jerusalem, 19 April 2007, published by Wikileaks, 1 September 2011.
*"Shimon" - advisor to NSC Counterterrorism Bureau Director General, c.2006.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.
*Szymon Rosenberg, Shin Bet representative at 2006 meeting between National Security Advisor and US diplomat Henry Crumpton. 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.
*Arnon Vinceze - liaison officer, c.2004.Goi Info On Ramallah Bank Raid, US Embassy Tel Aviv, 5 March 2004, published by Wikileaks, 1 September 2011.
*Ilan Kosanivich - liaison officer, c.2004.Goi Info On Ramallah Bank Raid, US Embassy Tel Aviv, 5 March 2004, published by Wikileaks, 1 September 2011.
*Yekutiel Hadar Former Chief Legal Counsel for the Northern DistrictMann Mairone's private anti-terrorist squad, Intelligence Online, 8 April 2010.
*Peri Golan - former director of the agency's counter-terrorism division, later head of its southern region.Mann Mairone's private anti-terrorist squad, Intelligence Online, 8 April 2010.
*Nechama Aloni - former desk researcher, Aloni in charge of liaising between the Israeli intelligence services and the U.S. Department of Justice during the course of several counter-terrorism investigations, notably on the finances of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.Mann Mairone's private anti-terrorist squad, Intelligence Online, 8 April 2010.
*Ronit Ashkenazi - Head of Education.Yossi Melman, Nothing succeeds like abject failure, Haaretz, 18 October 2002.
*Shabtai Ziv - Legal adviser.Yossi Melman, Nothing succeeds like abject failure, Haaretz, 18 October 2002.
*Y.S. Head of Yitzhak Rabin's protection team.Yossi Melman, Nothing succeeds like abject failure, Haaretz, 18 October 2002.
*Yoram Rubin - Yitzhak Rabin's bodyguard.Yossi Melman, Nothing succeeds like abject failure, Haaretz, 18 October 2002.
*Lior Akerman - Former division chief.Lior Akerman, Should the Shin Bet be heard?, 14 March 2013.
*Dan Vesely - Former head of the Vetting Division, Human Resources Department.Dan Vesely, Sdema Group, acccessed 28 July 2013.
*Oded Raz - Former head of Cyber-terrorism Unit.LECTURES, Four Troop, accessed 29 July 2013.
*Amir TakomiAmir Takomi, Sdema Group, acccessed 28 July 2013.
*Ami GolanAmi Golan, Sdema Group, acccessed 28 July 2013.
*Ram GiladPillar Team, Pillar Group, accessed 29 July 2013.
*Avner Barnea
*Zadok Ophir
==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.
*Amira Hass, 'Shin Bet tortures prisoners and denies access to lawyers', Haaretz, 28 December 2010.
*Samuel Burke, Six Israeli security chiefs stun the world, Amanpour, CNN.com, 28 January 2012.
==Notes==
Category:Spookscategory:Israel Category:Israeli intelligence