IDF: ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE

1972 Olympic Games in Munich Germany

There is only one country in the world that faces the threat of total elimination on a daily basis. The security obstacles that lie in the daily lives of Israeli’s are extremely evident.   Israeli citizens understand that as a people, they are not welcome by their surrounding Arab neighbors. Few, if any Israelis forget that if Israel was to lose any conflict or war with the Arab world, their country would be eliminated.

 Israeli counterparts like Hamas have chosen not to mention Israel in any of its literature.  Its educational volumes list Palestine as encompassing the entire Israeli border.  Iran, which considers Israel “the cancer” of the Middle East, has spent the last ten years promoting the destruction of Israel with absolutely no fear of retaliation from the rest of the world.

Considering this direct threat funneled through Iran and its terror tributaries, Israel has no choice but to arm its entire population with intelligence and defense mechanisms vital to their survival. Today, Iran’s inability to negotiate with world leaders on a professional level keeps the IDF on constant watch.

As Rosenthal notes in her book The Israelis, Sergent Eli Rosenfeld describes the IDF "as a complex melting pot of culture"(p.57). With access to superior education and diverse surroundings, men, and more importantly women play heavy roles in the training and intelligence operations critical to Israel’s defense. Special units and elite soldiers man special tasks designed for covert offensives that do not reveal their origin. All avenues to advantage are tightened and specialized into elite sections of battle-ready units.  Soldiers employ bugging, tapping, and special listening techniques allowing the interception of enemy kills, moves and transmissions. Their ability to closely implant themselves without detection is critical to the success of thwarting large terrorist and military advancements.

Special operations like the tracking of Yasser Arafat and the analysis of papers found in his compound after his death (p.68) is a perfect example of how intelligence can reveal real truths of enemy movement and intention. The bomb labs and terror factories found in Jenin would later confirm all suspicions.

 IDF intelligence units along with Massad operatives sworn to total secrecy are considered elite organizations by much of the globe. Israel prides itself on this ideal which helps with acquiring new recruits destined for spy life.

One special intelligence unit most common among the terror resistance side of the IDF is the Sayerot Mat’kal.  Founded in 1959 it’s responsible for decisive assassinations that have allowed for Israel to stop the development of terrorist attacks. In time of war this unit is employed on special recon missions designed to place the military in proper positions for offensive action.  When not engaged in war, Unit 269 is strictly an intelligence spy operation designed to reveal the secret positions of jihad hopefuls all over Israel, Gaza and the occupied territories.

 Here are a few of its most memorable accomplishments, both good and bad.

 Operation Isotope  1972

Prior to the massacre in Munich during the 1972 Olympic games, another incident involving the same Black September terrorists engaged the Sayerot Matkal when a  Sabena plane loaded with passengers landed in Tel Aviv.  With terrorists on board demanding the release of 315 Palestinian prisoners, IDF officials set in place the rescue of hostages and elimination of the Terrorist unit on board.  On May 8, disguised as airport refueling technicians, 16 Israel commandos raided the planed killing two of the four terrorists and taking the other two captive. With only one prisoner’s life lost, the operation was a complete success.  In the wake of the hostage recovery, Ehud Barak and Benjamin Netanyahu would receive great honors and popularity within the IDF as well as Israeli politics.

 

Munich apartment Raided by IDF

Operation Spring of Youth 1972

Hell-bent on the capture and imprisonment of persons responsible for the massacre in Munich, Israeli officials devised an elaborate plan to secretly invade Lebanese beaches and advance upon two high rise structures in the city of Verdun, which supposedly housed the individuals who planned the Olympic shootings. Upon arrival, zodiac boats landed on the Lebanese coast where the Matkal commandos were ushered in via civilian rental cars directly to their targets.  Once there, PLO operatives were surprised in their own homes resulting in the assassination of all three targets.  Two IDF commandos were killed but the operation was a complete success.  Barak was also involved in this operation and again received high honors for his bravery. More Info.

Ma'alot Massacre Incident – 1974

Occasionally, these secret operations are botched like the one at Mahalot High School in 1974. DFLP (Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine) terrorists invaded the school taking teachers, students and employees hostage.  Armed with an old World War II Mauser 98, unequipped for precise long range engagements, the sniper fired at one of the hostage takers only wounding him. This inability to kill the target resulted in the varying display of aimless gunfire at the hostages.  More casualties mounted when that gunfire was followed by a hash of grenade tosses eliminating the rescue operation. 21 people were killed along with 2 others killed by friendly fire, the result of a lack in preparation and training.

Seeing how the rest of the world removes themselves from the conflicts constantly arising in Israel, it is critical for the IDF to maintain a watchful eye on the Arab and Palestinian citizens operating within the state.  Military force has been the only viable resource for maintaining a Jewish nation when all seven Arab countries have vowed in the past to eliminate it. The old adage “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” is a reality in this region. With Palestinians and Arabs shielding themselves with the lives of women and children and launching rockets from schools and hospitals, anything is possible.  It is proof that the IDFs reliance on ground intelligence is massive, and without it, Israel would most definitely cease to exist.

IRON DOME: EFFECTIVE AND EXPENSIVE

 The inability of the United Nations peacekeeping forces to stay entrenched in Gaza terror activity has been a major hindrance to both the Palestinian and Israeli population in the region.  The UN has repeatedly displayed their impotent strategy in local Gaza towns and villages resulting in the assassination of top PRC officials. This, in turn, sparked the retaliating muster of misguided rocket fire from Palestinian militia units in the region. 

The elimination of Zuhair al-Qaissi, the secretary general of the Popular Resistance Committee is the direct result of lax UN military commitment to the terrorist operations in the Gaza strip. IDF officials made it clear that Qaissi had other intentions for the citizens of nearby Israeli villages and townships. According to Israeli officials, he is the responsible party involved in the kidnapping of the youthful Israeli Soldier Gilad Shilat in 2006.  His recently planned trip to the Sinai was not intended for peace or negotiation. Paperwork disguised as a colorful snorkeling excursion was painted over with an underlining message of mass murder in the Sinai Region. IDF phone taps and wireless infiltration once again proved his alternate plans.

In the Harretz article by Gili Cohen and Yanir Yagna regarding the latest use of the Iron Dome, the author lightly touches on the reasons for the attacks and gives absolutely no mention as to what initiated the rocket launches in the first place.  With nothing more than a brief mention of an extremely brittle Egyptian cease fire, only the regional aspects of the conflict are noted.  The villages of Netivot and Be’er  Sheva, where the happenings took place are evident, but there is still no mention of the Israeli assassination of the PRC official.  This is the most important part of this conflict, yet it is completely omitted.   The only legitimate, reliable information within this report informs the reader that schools and civic duties were shut down in the five cities of Be'er Sheva, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Kiryat Malakhi and Gan Yavneh. Other than simple reporting of an incident, this article's reliability lacks an enormous amount of information.

Furthermore, there is no historical reference or detail involving the UN presence or assassination of Zuhair al-Qaissi, who was responsible for a terrorist attack that killed 8 Israelis.  There is no assessment of casualty and the author implies nothing about the randomness in regards to how the militants extend their missile delivery.

In contrast to Cohen and Yagna, the research and relativity of the article posted by Rick Moran employs the reader with vast knowledge of the situation.  Important facts regarding the four, and soon to be five more Iron Dome units deployed as well civilian casualties.  There is also background deployed to seat the reader on the frustration felt by Israelis and Palestinians in the region.  

Moran outlines the cost and links the reader’s consciousness with a hint of Palestinian animosity when noting the responsible donors for the financing of Iron Dome. Respectfully, his mention of the substantial $205 million donated by the U.S. in assistance for its’ manufacturing, underlines how deeply involved the Americans are in the conflict. He then gives another wink to the reader and implies how Congress has again authorized another $200 million in the near future.  More Info.

Moran has a stronger grasp of the atmosphere on the ground as well as militarily, giving history on the assassination along with the reason for a delay in the hit.  He assists the reader on the reason for the both sides retaliating. 

 Informing the reader on Iron Dome stats and tactics is important to understanding the value of the new defense system.

                                                                Operation Statistics

 Developed originally to shield Israel from Hezbollah attacks in the southern zone of the Lebanese border, they are essential to the million citizens in range of enemy missile attacks. Manufactured by the Israeli owned firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the missile stations provide a quality 90% success rate. They have no problem taking out Iranian Qassam or Soviet Grad missiles known for a cruise range of anywhere from 5 to 15 miles. Iron dome Interceptors cruise much faster than opponent projectiles at a range of 4 to 70 miles. Transported by truck, they carry a warhead capable of mid-air detonation. Deployment is triggered with software developed by Israeli defense firm Elta. More Info

                                                                        The Cost

Although the success rate of Iron Dome has proven its worth over the last year, its future is still unknown.  In order for the operation to flourish, U.S. aid is mandatory. As we see here in Yossi Melmann's examination of the incidents, the monetary expense of this defense literally skyrockets after each use. The cost of one Iron Dome Defense missile is upwards of $100,000. Shooting off 10 or 12 of these can ruin the budget, not to mention the complete halt to civilian life on the ground in surrounding Iron Dome outposts.

Despite the alarming cost, the southern part of the country where the Negev region is an extremely sensitive issue for the IDF, residents more than welcome the new mobile security units. Considering the ineffective Mubarak regime has allowed for limited security and unauthorized Bedouin patrols, Iron Dome is will be heavily relied upon. The patrols are well-known for disruption of civilian transit and critical pipeline routes. PRC Grad rocket fire is also extremely common in this area.

PRC Militia fighter displaying Grad Rocket prior to launch.

With Iran funding heavy artillery along with large caches of rockets to Hamas and  its PRC Militias, Israel's only alternative for protecting its citizens from the consistent aimless attacks has been air strikes followed by duck and cover Iron Dome Interceptors.   The urge to provide more units is high on the IDF’s itinerary, but they also understand the massive investment and realize they are not ballistic missile defense worthy.  Israel has no large missile defense system and the threat of large 750 pound warhead penetrating Israeli airspace becomes ever more real by the day.