以色列的情报战

ISRAELS INTELLIGENCE WARSSHAY HERSHKOVITZMARCH 2,2016COMMENTARYOn January 12,the spokesman of the Israeli Defense Force(IDF)announced the resignation of Brig.Gen.Eli Ben-Meir ashead of the Research Division due to differences of opinion with the chief of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate,Maj.Gen.Herzi Halevi.According to several prominent Israeli media channels,the dispute revolved arounddisagreement on the way the Research Division should be managed along with personal differences between the twosenior officers.Such a situation is extremely rare,especially since Ben-Meir was assigned to his position only a year ago the term usually lasts three or four years.Rare as it is,this event is a good opportunity to examine one of the most intriguing anomalies among intelligence agenciesin the Western world.Unlike in the United States,where the body responsible for the National Intelligence Estimate(NIE)is the Office of the Director of National Intelligence a civilian organ the responsible official in Israel is a militaryofficer.With recent dramatic changes in Israels intelligence community leadership,it will be interesting to see if therewill be changes to Israels national asse