Ha-Mossad le-Modiin ule-Tafkidim Meyuhadim (Hebrew: Institute for Intelligence and Special Tasks) is an Israeli intelligence agency, commonly referred to as Mossad. It is responsible for intelligence collection, covert action, and counter-terrorism, with focus on Arab nations and organizations worldwide.
Mossad was formed in April 1951. It is a civilian service and does not use military ranks, although all staff have served in the Israeli Defence Force.
Departments
- Collections Department – the largest, responsible for espionage operations
- Political Action and Liaison Department – political activities and liaison with friendly intelligence services
- Special Operations Division (Metsada) – assassination, sabotage, and paramilitary projects
- LAP (Lohamah Psichlogit) – psychological warfare, propaganda and deception
- Research Department – intelligence synthesis
- Technology Department – development of technologies for operations
Famous Operations
- Obtaining Khrushchev's secret Stalin-denouncing speech
- Capturing of Adolf Eichmann
- Killing of those responsible for the Munich massacre (and the Lillehammer affair)
- Kidnapping of Mordechai Vanunu
- Intelligence for Operation Entebbe
Directors
- 1951–1952: Reuven Shiloah
- 1952–1963: Issar Har'el
- 1963–1968: Me'ir Amit
- 1968–1974: Zvi Zamir
- 1974–1982: Yitzhak Hofi
- 1982–1990: Nahum Admoni
- 1990–1996: Shabtai Shavit
- 1996–1998: Danny Yatom
- 1998–2003: Efraim Halevy
- 2003–: Me'ir Dagan