by Haggai Huberman , journalist and author, translated by Hillel Fendel.
The latest annual Shabak
report reveals new anti-terrorist and anti-espionage methods and impressive
successes.
The Shabak (Israel's
General Security Service, also known as Shin Bet, corresponding to the American
FBI) released its annual summary report this past week, entitled, "The
Shabak in a Multi-Front War." It contains some interesting facts and
insights regarding the war in Gaza, the anti-terrorism war in Judea and
Samaria, the Arabs of Israel, and increased Iranian attempts to recruit spies
in Israel.
The most significant change
in 2024 was the fact that most intelligence from Gaza is now gathered
physically from within Gaza. Under the current war conditions, Shabak agents
entered the area, together with IDF forces, in order to recruit and activate
agents "on the spot." This is the first time since the Disengagement
withdrawal, nearly 20 years ago, that this is happening – and not at all by
coincidence. The withdrawal engineered by then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, a
Yom Kippur war hero, was the beginning of the process that ended on Simchat
Torah of 2023 with the unforeseen slaughter of 1,200 Israelis and the
kidnapping of 250 more. This occurred at least partly because barely any
valuable intelligence information was obtainable from Gaza for nearly two
decades.
This is of course further
proof that no technological means, no matter how up-to-date, can ever replace
the "personal contact" between the Shin Bet and its agents – spies – on
the ground. Signals intelligence (SIGINT) cannot exclusively take the place of
human intelligence (HUMINT), and the Shabak learned, and implemented, this over
the past year.
In 2024, the joint
Shabak-IDF activity resulted in over 1,350 arrestees, including some 40 senior
operatives and commanders, 165 close associates of senior officials, 45
involved in the Oct. 7 slaughter, and 100 who apparently have information regarding
the hostages.
Saving Lives in Real Time
The main question facing the Shabak over the years was how to make
the best, and fastest, use of the information garnered during interrogations.
For it is clear that much of the intelligence gathered in this way has no value
at all if not utilized as quickly as possible. For this purpose, a new unit was
established in the Shin Bet entitled "From Interrogation to Target," which,
as its name implies, aims to formulate targets as immediately as possible. The current
report reveals that during the war, hundreds of targets in Gaza have been attacked
whose information came directly from Shabak investigations. As a result, over
30 (!) top Hamas terrorists in Gaza have been liquidated, as well as hundreds
of others on slightly lower levels.
In addition, the investigations led to life-saving information
that was passed on to IDF forces on the ground, including warnings about
booby-trapped houses, and more.
Not only that, seven hostages were freed by Israeli forces in
three different operations, planned and led by the Shabak. Valuable information
was also obtained that led to the finding of nine bodies of hostages that were
rescued from Gaza and brought to burial in Israel.
Another mission that the Shabak took on was to "pay
back" those who took part in the Simchat Torah slaughter. A special
command office was set up for this purpose, and succeeded in killing dozens of
those known as Nukhba terrorists.
As far as Lebanon and the northern front is concerned, the Shabak
significantly stepped up its work there this past year, especially in light of
increased Hamas activity in Lebanon. The Shabak increased its intelligence
gathering and thwarting of terrorist actions in the Land of the Cedars.
Yesha: Over 1,000 Attacks Thwarted
The report features some amazing stats related to the Yesha (Judea
and Samaria) front, where the Shabak thwarted 1,040 significant attacks this
year. These included 689 attempted shootings, 326 bomb attacks, 13 stabbings, 9
attempted car-rammings, two suicide attacks, and even an attempted kidnapping.
Dozens of special IDF-Shabak operations were carried out in Yesha, including 13
airstrikes.
* Let the reader imagine that these numbers did not measure
"thwarted attacks," but rather attacks that were actually carried
out. The State of Israel would have been in a very different place during this
past year-plus of war…
And what about the Israeli-Arabs? We tend to think that they have
sat quietly during this past year, but this is true only for the general
populace, which did not riot as it did throughout Israel during the
"Guardians of the Wall." But in terms of individuals, some 20
Israeli-Arab terrorist gangs were uncovered as they planned attacks against
their fellow citizens, including five rings that planned car-bombs and other
bombings. Again, it is not hard to guess the catastrophic effects if five
car-bombs had exploded in Israel during the course of the war.
During the course of 2024, some 80 cases involving Israeli-Arabs were
investigated, including 26 in which the suspects swore allegiance to or planned
to carry out terrorist activity inspired by global jihad and the Islamic State
(ISIS) within Israel.
Administrative Detention for Arms Dealing
This year also saw, for the first time, administrative detention
for arms dealers, as part of the war against criminal activity that spills over
into terrorist activity.
The Shabak report reveals much about Iran's increased attempts –
and successes – to recruit spies within Israel. During the course of 2024, 13
grave espionage cases involving Israelis working on behalf of Iran were
uncovered. No fewer than 37 Israelis were investigated, and 27 have been charged
with very serious crimes with possible life imprisonment sentences. These
represent an approximate 400% rise over the year 2023. The discovery of these
spy rings, or individuals, led to the thwarting of attacks of terrorism,
espionage, and even assassination.
It is estimated that dozens of Israelis were in touch with Iranian intelligence agents during these past 15 months of war, and that hundreds of others were contacted by them. The publication of these stories has led to increased public awareness of the seriousness of the Iranian intentions, and therefore the nipping in the bud of other potential Iranian spies among Israelis.