HOLY LAND BOOK - Draft

The Mossad is one of the world's most wellknown
intelligence agencies, and is often
viewed in the same regard as the CIA and MI6. It
is known for its efficiency, and many believe it
has made a large contribution to the stability
and security of Israel.
Mossad was formed in December 1949 as the
"Central Institute for Coordination", at the
recommendation of Reuven Shiloah to Prime
Minister David Ben Gurion. Shiloah desired a
central body to coordinate and improve
cooperation between the existing security
services - the Army's Intelligence Department
(AMAN), the General Security Service (GSS or
"Shabak") and the Foreign Office's "political
department". In March 1951 it was reorganized,
and made a part of the Prime Minister's Office,
reporting directly to the Prime Minister. Its
current staff is estimated at approximately
1,200.
The Mossad is headquartered in Tel Aviv and
has eight departments:
Collections Department is the largest, with
responsibility for espionage operations.
Political Action and Liaison Department
conducts political activities and liaison with
friendly foreign intelligence services and with
nations with which Israel does not have normal
diplomatic relations.
Special Operations Division (Metsada)
conducts assassination, sabotage, and
paramilitary projects.
LAP (Lohamah Psichlogit) Department is
responsible for psychological warfare,
propaganda and deception operations.
Research Department is responsible for
intelligence synthesis.
Technology Department is responsible for
development of technologies to support Mossad
operations.
Mossad is a civilian service, and does not use
military ranks, although most of the Mossad's
staff have served in the Israeli Defense Force.
The assassination of the Hamas leader
Mahmoud al-Mabhouhin in Dubai by a Mossad
hit squad (the Mossad has never publically
admitted to the hit) in January 2010 captured
world headlines.
Controversy also swirls around Stuxnet, the
computer worm responsible for partially disabling
Iran’s Natanz nuclear plant. Some analysts are
certain Stuxnet is the product of an Israel-U.S.
cooperative effort, others point to a China
connection. UNIT 8200, an elite technology intel
unit of the IDF Intelligence Corps, is the largest
unit of the IDF, analogous to the NSA in the United
States, and described as a “hot bed for the best
brains in Israel.” UNIT 8200 was allegedly
responsible for disabling Syrian anti aircraft
defenses as part of the September 2007 attack by
the IAF that destroyed a nuclear reactor in
northern Syria.
The YAMAM is self-dependent, training its own
operators in all fields, such as sniping, recon, dog
operating, bomb disposal, etc. As a result, the
YAMAM has a very rapid deployment time and
high coordination between various squads
(sniping squad, entry team, engagement force,
etc.). The YAMAM's primary duties are:
Hostage rescue (terrorist events).
Hostage rescue (criminal events).
Counter terrorism (preventative operations).
SWAT duties - handling dangerous criminals.
Undercover police operations.
VIP security.
Most of the YAMAM's activity is classified, and
published YAMAM operations are often credited to
other units. Nevertheless, the YAMAM enjoys a
high reputation among SF professionals and the
Israeli public.
The YAMAM was established after the Maalot
massacre, where a failed operation by military
special forces units ended with 21 children
murdered before the terrorists were killed. Since
hostage rescue in friendly territory is different
from counter-terrorism in hostile areas, it was
decided to establish an elite civilian force, which
develops and practices a special CQB (Close
Quarters Battles) doctrine for counter-terrorism
operations in friendly territory and hostage
rescue. In late 1974 the YAMAM was established
and falls under the direct jurisdiction of a special
forces counter-terrorism unit of the MAGAV — the
combat arm of the police.