Spying for Israel: The Golden Age of  Israeli Intelligence, 1948-1967

Intelligence is a force multiplier: by enabling decision-makers to anticipate threats and prepare for conflicts, it can make the difference between success or failure in war. And when the survival of the nation is at stake, detailed knowledge of the enemy’s intentions and capabilities is particularly important. That is why Israel has invested so much effort in the gathering and assessment of intelligence, and why its intelligence agencies, particularly Mossad (foreign intelligence) and Aman (military intelligence),  have such fabled reputations. From the Palmach’s Arab Unit trained to infiltrate th enemy’s territory during the period of the state’s founding in the 1940s, to the spies who prepared the way for Israel’s decisive victory in the Six Day War of 1967, this lecture will illuminate the crucial roles of espionage and intelligence during the first quarter-century of the history of modern Israel.

Bruce Thompson has been teaching history and literature at the University of California, Santa Cruz since 1991, and is one of the founding members of the University’s Programs in Jewish Studies.