After the pager bombings in Lebanon, Israeli intelligence agencies are once again in the news. Some claim that such operations can only be carried out by Israeli agencies. In this article, we will discuss the excellent record and major blunders of Israeli intelligence agencies, especially Mossad, Amman and Shin Bet.
Despite the successes of the Israeli intelligence agencies’ operations, they also made many big mistakes. The 1954 Egyptian crisis, known as the “Lavon Affair,” was Israel’s biggest intelligence failure and became a dark chapter for these agencies.
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Lavon incident
Israeli intelligence agencies are renowned for their excellent operations. Whether it is intelligence missions against enemies or the support and use of international spy networks, these agencies always appear heroic, but every superpower has a weak side, and Israel is no exception.
In 1954, David Ben-Gurion resigned as prime minister and Moshe Sharet took over as head of the government. This period was very difficult for Sharet. He was unable to establish his authority over the Minister of Defense, Pinhas Lavon, who excelled in operations but failed in complex military issues.
At the same time, two ambitious young men, Chief of Defense Staff Moshe Dayan and Minister Shimon Peres, closely followed Ben-Gurion’s advice. This was a period when the intelligence agency Aman gained influence in the government, and after Levin came to power, Mossad was marginalized.
Although the Mossad remains a powerful organization whose presence is essential to all important operations, Levin prefers to stay away from it.
Unrest in Egypt
Neighboring Egypt was also experiencing its own unrest. King Farouk had been deposed and a new leader, Gamal Abdel Nasser, had assumed power in Cairo. Nasser’s first priorities were to control the Suez Canal and eliminate the British military presence.
Israel is concerned about this activity because removing the British from here means that Egypt will be able to attack the Sinai Peninsula more easily. Oman learned that the British planned to evacuate the Suez base. The voices of “something must be done” continued to echo in the defense corridors.
Later an intelligence operation was planned, which was named “Operation Susanna”. Israel planned to establish a terrorist network in Egypt claiming to be Arab. Its purpose was to attack American and British institutions and put the blame on Egypt. The plan was to make the British and Americans suspicious of Nasser’s government and take action.
Acid bombs made from condoms and glasses cases
In lieu of heavy bombs, Susannah agents used condoms filled with acid and eyeglass cases filled with explosives. In July 1954, a small explosion occurred at a post office in Alexandria. Other small-scale attacks occurred elsewhere.
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In connection with the operation, a bomb in the pocket of 19-year-old Philip Nathanson exploded while he was waiting in line at a movie theater in Alexandria. Within hours, Egyptian police arrested the Israeli network. Egyptian authorities also captured senior Mossad agent Max Bennett, a businessman in a neighboring country.
After Egypt became suspicious, the authorities began searching for the agent. One day, his radio malfunctioned and Egypt captured him. This was a period when Israel was in desperate need of intelligence agents in Egypt. The Israeli agent was later hanged in Cairo, and Max Bennett, who led the operation, committed suicide in prison.
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