Intelligence and espionage

Sharvit

Meet Eli Sharvit, Trump critic and Netanyahu's outsider nominee to lead Shin Bet

In a surprise move, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has nominated former Israeli naval commander Eli Sharvit to become Shin Bet chief despite his lack of intelligence experience.

Ronen Bar, chief of Israel's domestic Shin Bet security agency, attends a ceremony marking Memorial Day for fallen soldiers of Israel's wars and victims of attacks at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl military cemetery, on May 13, 2024.

How Netanyahu's sacking of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar could backfire on Israel

The decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar is likely to further erode Israel’s rule of law and democratic principles.

Tulsi Gabbard testifies during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Tulsi Gabbard grilled about Assad, Iran views at confirmation hearing

In her confirmation hearing for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard was pressed on her relationship with former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and walked back previous statements criticizing Trump's policy choices.

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for CIA director, John Ratcliffe, appears for a Senate Intelligence confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on Jan. 15, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Trump's CIA pick warns of Iran nuclear advancements in confirmation hearing

In his confirmation hearing, John Ratcliffe spoke about Iran's development of nuclear weapons, evidence of Syria's Bashar al-Assad's use of chemical weapons and the FISA.

Latest News

Israeli arrested on suspicion of spying, arson for Iran: What we know

This image released by police on Dec. 30, 2024, shows a car allegedly set on fire by Alexander Granovsky, a civilian recruited by "foreign elements."

IAEA's Grossi denies Netanyahu claim Israel hit Iran nuclear facility

Grossi

Canada foils Iranian plot to kill Jewish human rights leader: What we know

Irwin Cotler

Netanyahu aide arrested over leaked documents linked to stalled hostage deal: What we know

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the Hebrew calendar anniversary of the Hamas attack on October 7 last year that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem on October 27, 2024. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

A US F/A-18 taxis to the runway of the USS Eisenhower in the southern Red Sea. Feb. 21, 2024

Analysis

US Navy faces down Houthi attacks as Washington signals open-ended effort

Saudi Arabia has restricted the US military from launching strikes in Yemen via Saudi airspace, leaving an aging US Navy aircraft carrier to shoulder the campaign in the Red Sea.

Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

SHIR TOREM/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Netanyahu gives in to US pressure on Paris talks but still committed to war

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu walked back his previous opposition and agreed to send an Israeli delegation to Paris only under American pressure and to preserve Israeli ties with Egypt.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Mossad, CIA, Qatar, Egypt reps to meet in Paris as Gaza deal talks advance

The Biden administration is hoping that a deal for the release of hostage and a temporary ceasefire could be reached before the start of Ramadan, March 10.

Arouri blast site

Analysis

Israel braces for retaliation by Hamas, Hezbollah for Arouri's death

After the killing of Hamas senior Saleh al-Arouri on Lebanese soil, all eyes in Israel are on Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah for his reaction.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

People attend a rally in support of the people of Israel in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on October 22, 2023. Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinians have died since October 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip, entered southern Israel in a surprise attack leading Israel to declare war on Hamas in Gaza the following day. (Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP) (Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel's Mossad helped Brazil foil Hezbollah attack, two arrested

The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that Mossad played a part in foiling a terror attack in Brazil instigated by Hezbollah.

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Senegal's President Macky Sall (L).

Analysis

Niger, Morocco turn their backs on France as Macron withdraws troops

In the Sahel region and in North Africa, post-colonial France is rapidly losing its influence.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Five Israelis, Palestinians charged in Iran spy plot, Shin Bet says

Israel's security service said it had foiled a plot by five Israelis and Palestinians recruited for Iran to spy on Israeli politicians, including the far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Israel's Mossad chief sets new red lines for Iranian leadership, Russia

Mossad chief David Barnea warned the Iranian leadership directly and Moscow more subtly, but his real message was for American ears.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

4 Arab Israelis arrested for Hezbollah ties, smuggling Iranian explosives

The Shin Bet announced today that four Arab Israelis suspected of involvement with Hezbollah's smuggling activities were arrested last month.

An aerial view shows a Moroccan flag measuring 60,000 square metres (645,835 square foot) and weighing 20 tonnes in the town of Dakhla, on May 8, 2010. The flag is an attempt to beat the record for the World's largest flag, a record which is currently held by Israel. AFP PHOTO/AIDA (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel-Morocco security ties set to deepen after Western Sahara recognition

The last two years have seen a quantum leap in the security and strategic cooperation between Israel and Morocco.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Men chat as they sit on a bench in front of the New Mosque, bearing Turkish flags, in the Eminonu district in Istanbul, on January 10, 2023. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey says it busted Israeli Mossad spy ring targeting Hezbollah, others

Turkey has detained seven people for spying on behalf of Israel on a major multinational espionage operation.

The newly opened and sole Jewish synagogue and community center, Laranaca, Cyprus, Sept. 14, 2005.

Israeli Mossad interrogated inside Iran agent who had operated in Cyprus

Mossad published more details on a daring operation on Iranian soil, where its agents tracked and interrogated a head of an Iranian terror cell who had plotted to kill an Israeli in Cyprus.