BBC News Online: Despatches

Crisis of confidence for Mossad

This latest setback for Israel's foreign-intelligence service - Mossad - comes after a spate of operational failures that have damaged relations with other countries and even misled Israel's own political leaders on the dangers of war.

Morale amongst the once legendary intelligence service is now at rock-bottom.

But Mossad's problems cannot be dealt with in isolation. Insiders believe that only a far-reaching reform of all of Israel's intelligence gathering apparatus - Mossad, its internal counterpart Shin Bet, and the army's own military intelligence branch - will restore the Israeli security services' credibility.

Recent failures - not least the botched attempt to assassinate a Hamas leader in Jordan - have highlighted the lack of sufficient political control over Mossad's activities. A commission of inquiry established to look into the fiasco in Jordan pulled many of its punches, but it did highlight the need for greater advice on intelligence matters at the political level - suggesting that the Israeli Prime Minister should have his own intelligence adviser.

The Mossad chief - Danny Yatom - resigned ahead of the revelations of the failed Swiss operation. The fact that he didn't go after the misjudged assassination attempt in Jordan is indicative of the serious problems of accountability that Mossad faces.

But even Mr Yatom couldn't survive a second crisis that soured relations with another friendly country - Switzerland. But Mossad's problems are as much practical as political.

The recent failures have highlighted lax procedures and frankly amateurish standards. The fact that one agent was recently revealed to have been providing the agency with faked intelligence reports playing up the danger of war with Syria, highlight's the scale of the problems that Mr Yatom's successor will have to grapple with.

Relevant Stories

Suspected Mossad agent arrested in Switzerland (26 Feb 98 | World)
Netanyahu confirms Israeli arrested in Switzerland (26 Feb 98 | World)
Jordan welcomes resignation of Mossad head (24 Feb 98 | World)
Israel's secret service chief resigns (24 Feb 98 | World)
Netanyahu cleared of failed assassination (16 Feb 98 | Despatches)
Mossad spy denies endangering Israel (17 Dec 97 | World)
Mossad agent charged with spying for Syria (06 Dec 97 | World)

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