The Mossad, also known as the Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, is the national intelligence agency of the State of Israel. It is one of the main entities in the Israeli Intelligence Community, along with Aman (military intelligence) and Shin Bet (internal security). The Mossad is responsible for intelligence collection, covert operations, and counter-terrorism, and its director answers directly and only to the Prime Minister. Its annual budget is estimated to be around ₪10 billion (US$2.73 billion), and it is estimated that it employs around 7,000 people, making it one of the worlds largest espionage agencies.
The Mossad was established in 1951 by then Prime Minister David Ben Gurion, who gave as Mossads primary directive: "For our state which since its creation has been under siege by its enemies. Intelligence constitutes the first line of defence...we must learn well how to recognise what is going on around us". The agency is headquartered in Tel Aviv and has a total of eight departments.
The Mossad is concerned with foreign intelligence gathering, intelligence analysis, and covert operations. Its focus is on Arab nations and organizations throughout the world, and it is responsible for the clandestine movement of Jewish refugees out of Syria, Iran, and Ethiopia. Mossad agents are active in the former communist countries, in the West, and at the UN. The Mossad and its operatives have carried out undercover operations against enemies of Israel and have played a role in thwarting terrorist attacks in other countries.
With an annual budget of about $3bn and 7,000 staff, Mossad is the second-largest espionage agency in the Western world after the CIA. The identity of the director of Mossad was traditionally a state secret, or at least not widely publicized, until 1996 when the Government announced the appointment of Major General Danny Yatom as the replacement for Mossad Director Shabtai Shavit.
In conclusion, the Mossad is Israels national intelligence agency responsible for intelligence collection, covert operations, and counter-terrorism. It is one of the worlds largest espionage agencies and is focused on foreign intelligence gathering, intelligence analysis, and covert operations. Its director answers directly and only to the Prime Minister, and its annual budget is estimated to be around ₪10 billion (US$2.73 billion), with around 7,000 employees.
