Mossad, the Secret History of Israel

In 2018, US President Donald Trump announced that Iran was secretly developing nuclear weapons, despite the 2015 agreement. This announcement was bolstered by a spectacular press conference by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, revealing that Mossad had infiltrated a top-secret warehouse in Tehran. Mossad agents allegedly stole over 500 kilograms of confidential documents related to Iran's nuclear program. While these documents primarily proved Iran's previous deception rather than any violation of the 2015 agreement, the highly effective operation solidified Mossad's reputation for efficiency and its significant impact on global events. This operation, involving around a hundred agents, sent a powerful message about Israel's intelligence capabilities.

Mossad is known for its efficiency and ability to operate in difficult environments, driven by Israel's perceived existential threats, particularly from Iranian power. The desire for survival and the presence of tough leadership create an 'explosive cocktail' for the intelligence service. The narrative shifts to June 1948, shortly after Israel's declaration of independence and during its war with neighboring Arab countries. Prime Minister David Ben Gurion recognized the critical failure of intelligence during this period, leading to the reorganization of Israel's intelligence services. This resulted in the formation of three bodies: a domestic intelligence service, a military intelligence service, and an external espionage service, which would become Mossad, dedicated to gathering information outside Israel's borders and protecting Jewish people worldwide.

After Israel's victory in the 1948 war, the fear of disappearing persisted. In 1951, Mossad was officially created, quickly becoming one of the most feared secret services. A pivotal moment was the April 1961 trial of Adolf Eichmann, a key figure in the Nazi 'Final Solution,' held in Israel. This trial, broadcast worldwide and by radio in Israel, had an extraordinary impact on Israeli society, making the Holocaust a legitimate topic for discussion. Mossad's early agents, many of whom were Holocaust survivors, were driven by a mission to secure a Jewish state. In February 1960, Mossad agents located Eichmann living under a false identity in Buenos Aires. Ben Gurion ordered his capture and extradition to Israel for trial, not elimination, to highlight the Holocaust and its link to Israel's creation. After three months of meticulous planning, Mossad agents captured Eichmann in a dramatic operation and covertly transported him back to Israel on a chartered plane during Argentina's national holiday. Eichmann's trial and subsequent execution cemented Mossad's myth as an omnipresent and powerful intelligence agency.

In addition to capturing Eichmann, Mossad distinguished itself in strategic and military operations. In August 1966, Israel unveiled a captured MiG-21 fighter jet, a prized possession of Soviet aviation. This feat, achieving what even the financially powerful American CIA couldn't, showcased Israel's intelligence prowess. The Mossad was tasked with stealing a MiG-21 from an enemy state. They found Captain Mounir Redfa, a Christian Iraqi Air Force pilot frustrated by religious discrimination. Mossad agents made contact, arranged secret meetings, and eventually convinced Redfa to defect with his MiG-21 in exchange for his family's exfiltration to Israel. On August 16, 1966, Redfa successfully flew his MiG-21 to Israel, escorted by Israeli fighter jets, providing invaluable intelligence for military strategy. Under Meir Hamid's leadership in the 1960s, Mossad also revolutionized its recruitment and training methods, moving beyond word-of-mouth to more sophisticated psychological and aptitude tests, emphasizing the ability to lead a double life and improvise under pressure. This rigorous training produced highly skilled spies deployed across the region.

With Mossad's highly trained spies deployed across the Middle East, Israel gained crucial intelligence on Arab military capabilities. In June 1967, confident in its intelligence, Israel launched a preemptive strike against Egypt, destroying its air force within three hours. Mossad's precise intelligence on Egyptian airfields and bases proved decisive, leading to an swift ground offensive. During the offensive, Mossad agents conducted psychological warfare through radio, discouraging Egyptian resistance and highlighting Arab leaders' perceived deceit. The Six-Day War resulted in a decisive Israeli victory, with the capture of the West Bank, Gaza, and the Golan Heights, and, significantly, the reunification of Jerusalem. This victory, fueled by Mossad's intelligence, solidified Israel's position but also set the stage for future conflicts. The narrative then shifts to the tragic 1972 Munich Olympics, where nine Israeli athletes were taken hostage by Palestinian terrorists from Black September. The attack, broadcast live, deeply traumatized Israel. Despite Mossad Chief Zvi Zamir's presence, German authorities mismanaged the rescue attempt, resulting in the deaths of all hostages. This 'fiasco' profoundly impacted Zvi Zamir and the Israeli public, igniting a national demand for retribution.

In response to the Munich massacre, Prime Minister Golda Meir authorized Mossad to launch 'Operation Wrath of God,' targeting all individuals involved in the attack and perceived PLO leaders. The objectives were deterrence, retribution, and reassuring Israelis of their nation's strength against terrorism. A committee of three ministers approved each execution, weighing diplomatic consequences. Mossad deployed 20-25 agents across Europe, operating with fake passports and secure safe houses. One early target was Mahmoud Amchari, a Palestinian intellectual in Paris, who was connected to the PLO. Despite his public image as a moderate, Mossad eliminated him in a booby-trapped apartment. This began a series of assassinations by Mossad in Paris, with little to no reaction from French authorities. Mossad also conducted a brazen daylight raid in Beirut in 1973, killing three PLO leaders in front of their families. However, their main target, Ali Hassan Salameh, the alleged mastermind of the Munich attacks, escaped.

Mossad's pursuit of Ali Hassan Salameh led to a significant blunder in July 1973. Believing Salameh was in Lillehammer, Norway, six Mossad agents assassinated a French-Moroccan waiter, Armen Bouchiki, who was mistakenly identified as their target. Norwegian authorities quickly responded, with roadblocks leading to the capture of the Mossad agents. One agent, a Holocaust survivor with claustrophobia, confessed under interrogation, revealing the details of the operation. This incident, widely reported in the media, exposed Mossad's methods and led to their conviction for espionage and complicity in murder, although most were released quickly. The victim's family received financial reparations 20 years later but no official apology. The incident caused international embarrassment and raised ethical questions about Mossad's methods. Despite the initial setback, Mossad continued its hunt for Salameh. Four years later, in 1979, an agent code-named 'Erika Chambers' infiltrated the PLO in Beirut, which was embroiled in civil war. She gathered intelligence on Salameh's daily routine, leading to his assassination by a car bomb on January 22, 1979. This elimination, seven years after Munich, sent a clear message to the Palestinian leadership, demonstrating Mossad's tenacious pursuit of its targets. However, the bombing also killed four innocent passers-by, sparking internal debate within Israel about the morality and effectiveness of such aggressive tactics.

The narrative shifts to Israel's concern over Iraq's nuclear ambitions. In the late 1970s, Israel, previously the sole nuclear power in the Middle East, faced the prospect of other nations, particularly Iraq, acquiring nuclear weapons. France, a traditional ally, was assisting Iraq in developing a state-of-the-art nuclear reactor, raising alarms in Israel. Tensions escalated after General De Gaulle's embargo on arms sales to Israel and his controversial comments in 1967. Saddam Hussein's visit to France in 1975 to finalize the reactor deal confirmed Israel's fears. Mossad was tasked with thwarting the Franco-Iraqi nuclear partnership, viewing a nuclear-armed Iraq as an existential threat. Despite French assurances about the reactor's peaceful nature, Mossad believed Iraq intended to misuse the technology. Initially, Israel resorted to diplomatic pressure, but with Menachem Begin's rise to power, a more assertive approach was adopted. Mossad was called upon not just to gather intelligence but to act. In March 1979, Mossad attempted to sabotage parts of the Iraqi reactor in France, but this operation was unsuccessful. Subsequently, Mossad launched an intimidation campaign, sending threatening letters to French engineers working on the project, leading to several resignations. Yahya al-Meshad, a key Egyptian nuclear scientist working for Iraq, was found murdered in a Parisian hotel in June 1980, adding to the climate of suspicion surrounding Mossad's activities.

Despite Mossad's efforts, Saddam Hussein's nuclear reactor was nearing completion by June 1981. With diplomatic and covert actions seemingly exhausted, the Mossad chief informed Prime Minister Begin that a military option was the only remaining recourse. On June 7, 1981, Israeli fighter jets launched 'Operation Opera,' destroying the Osirak reactor in Iraq. This high-stakes attack successfully neutralized Iraq's nuclear program, but it also resulted in the deaths of ten Iraqi soldiers and a French engineer, whose body was repatriated with condolences and compensation from Israel. The incident had minimal diplomatic consequences, especially with newly elected French President François Mitterrand seeking to restore relations with Israel. Mitterrand became the first French president to visit Israel, delivering a speech to the Knesset that marked a significant rapprochement between the two nations and a definitive end to French involvement in Iraq's nuclear program. With Iraq no longer a nuclear threat, Mossad's focus shifted to Iran. In the early 2000s, with Iranian nuclear activities intensifying, Mossad, under new chief Meir Dagan, prioritized thwarting Iran's program. Dagan advocated a comprehensive, covert strategy, including economic sanctions, assassinations, and sabotage. Mossad built a team to advise Americans and Europeans on sanctions, which became increasingly severe. Between 2007 and 2010, Mossad was suspected of assassinating and kidnapping several Iranian nuclear scientists to delay the program. Another strategy involved selling defective equipment to Iranian scientists through fake subcontracting companies. By 2008, Mossad, with U.S. assistance, deployed 'Stuxnet,' a sophisticated cyber-virus designed to sabotage Iran's centrifuges. This virus caused significant damage to Iran's nuclear facilities, causing delays and psychological distress among engineers. Ultimately, after years of covert warfare and economic pressure, Iran agreed to the 2015 nuclear deal with the international community, limiting its uranium production in exchange for lifted sanctions. However, many Israeli leaders criticized the deal as insufficient. In 2018, Mossad's extraction of Iranian nuclear archives helped persuade Donald Trump to withdraw from the agreement, reviving sanctions against Iran. Mossad continues to view Iran's nuclear program as the primary existential threat to Israel, with future strategies potentially including supporting internal change within Iran and fostering alliances with Sunni Arab states.