INTEL 712

1. Knesset Political Parties

The Knesset is Israel’s national legislature, and its political parties range across the political spectrum:

• Likud: Center-right, led by Benjamin Netanyahu
• Yesh Atid: Center, led by Yair Lapid
• Blue and White: Center, led by Benny Gantz
• Shas: Ultra-Orthodox Sephardic party, led by Aryeh Deri
• United Torah Judaism: Ultra-Orthodox Ashkenazi party
• Religious Zionism: Right-wing, national-religious party
• Yamina: Right-wing, formerly led by Naftali Bennett
• Labor: Center-left, historically significant party
• Meretz: Left-wing
• Joint List: Arab-Israeli parties’ alliance
• Ra’am (United Arab List): Islamist party
• New Hope: Center-right

2. Intelligence and Security Agencies

Israel has a well-established network of intelligence and security agencies:

• Mossad: Israel’s national intelligence agency, responsible for overseas operations, intelligence gathering, and counterterrorism. Mossad is known for carrying out covert operations globally.
• Shin Bet (Shabak): The internal security service, responsible for counter-terrorism and counter-intelligence within Israel and the Palestinian territories.
• Aman: Military Intelligence Directorate, responsible for intelligence collection, analysis, and military operations planning.
• Police Intelligence Units: Israel Police has specialized intelligence units that deal with organized crime, terrorism, and national security threats.
• Border Police (MAGAV): A special unit within the Israel Police that operates primarily in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

3. Special Military and Police Units

Israel has various elite military and police units:

• Sayeret Matkal: An elite reconnaissance unit of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) specializing in deep behind enemy lines operations.
• Yamam: Elite counter-terrorism unit within the Israel Police, known for hostage rescues and counter-terrorism operations.
• Shayetet 13: The Israeli Navy’s elite special forces unit, comparable to the U.S. Navy SEALs.
• Duvdevan: An elite IDF unit specialized in counter-terrorism and undercover operations within civilian areas.

4. State Security Operations

Israel’s security operations span various sectors, such as:

• Iron Dome: A defense system designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells.
• Arrow Missile Defense System: Used for intercepting ballistic missiles.
• Cybersecurity: Israel has advanced cybersecurity operations, both for national security and protecting critical infrastructure. The National Cyber Directorate operates under the Prime Minister’s Office.

5. Funding

While specific, detailed funding breakdowns for intelligence and security operations are often classified, here are some general insights:

• National Security Budget: Israel’s defense budget is substantial, with estimates around $23 billion USD annually. A significant portion of this goes to the IDF, intelligence agencies (Mossad, Shin Bet, Aman), and other security forces.
• US Military Aid: Israel receives about $3.8 billion USD annually from the United States, much of which is allocated to defense and intelligence operations.
• Intelligence and Cybersecurity: Exact figures are classified, but significant portions of the defense budget are allocated toward intelligence, cyber operations, and counter-terrorism.

6. Rogue States/States within a State

• The concept of “rogue states” or “states within a state” refers to areas controlled by non-state actors or parallel governments. In the context of Israel and its region, these may include:
• Hezbollah in Lebanon, controlling significant parts of southern Lebanon.
• Hamas in the Gaza Strip, functioning as a de facto government there, operating outside the control of the Palestinian Authority.
• Iran is often referred to as a rogue state in Israeli political and security discourse due to its sponsorship of groups like Hezbollah and its nuclear ambitions.

7. Judge, Jury, and Executioner Programs

While “judge, jury, and executioner” programs are not explicitly acknowledged by the Israeli government, several operations could be considered part of this category:

• Targeted Killings: Israel has a history of targeted assassinations against individuals deemed a threat to national security, such as Hamas leaders and Iranian nuclear scientists. These operations are usually carried out by the Mossad or IDF Special Forces.

8. Police and Special Units

Israel’s police force is divided into several branches, including special units like YAMAR (Israel’s Special Investigations Unit) and Yassam, a special patrol unit that handles riots, organized crime, and terror threats.

Summary

• Knesset Parties: A wide political spectrum from right to left, with both Jewish and Arab representation.
• Intelligence Agencies: Mossad, Shin Bet, and Aman are the key players in intelligence and internal security.
• Special Units: Sayeret Matkal, Shayetet 13, and Yamam lead in elite military and counter-terrorism operations.
• Funding: The defense budget is approximately $23 billion annually, with additional U.S. aid.
• Rogue States/States within a State: Entities like Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iran are seen as external or internal threats to Israeli security.

Many aspects, especially related to secret services and intelligence, remain classified, making detailed breakdowns challenging.