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Concept
Mossad
Summary
The Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations (המוסד למודיעין ולתפקידים מיוחדים ha-Mosád le-Modiʿín u-le-Tafkidím Meyuḥadím), popularly known as Mossad (UKˈmɒsæd , USmoʊˈsɑːd ), is the national intelligence agency of Israel. It 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. Its director answers directly and only to the Prime Minister. Its annual budget is estimated to be around 10 billion shekels (US$2.73 billion) and it is estimated that it employs around 7,000 people directly, making it one of the world's largest espionage agencies. Unlike other security bodies (such as the Israel Defense Forces or the Israel Security Agency), its purpose, objectives, roles, missions, powers, or budget have not been defined in 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 incorporated into the prime minister's office, reporting directly to the Prime Minister of Israel. Due to Mossad's accountability directly to the prime minister and not to the Knesset, journalist Ronen Bergman has described Mossad as a "deep state".
The organizational structure of the Mossad is classified, but a number of its component departments can be identified from media reporting. In 2002, the Federation of American Scientists listed the following departments:
Collections, Mossad's largest department, which is tasked with conducting espionage overseas. Employees in the Collections Department operate under a variety of covers, including diplomatic and unofficial.
Official source
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