Double Bill: “Former Head of Counter-terrorism Analysis, IDF” – with Shlomo Mofaz and “Former Head of Intelligence, Mossad” – with Zohar Palti

Summary

Col. (Ret.) Shlomo Mofaz (LinkedIn) and Col (Ret.) Zohar Palti (Wikipedia) join Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss their respective careers in the Israeli Defense Forces and the Mossad. 

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

• Israel’s relationships with neighboring countries 
• The role of intelligence within the Intifadas 
• Israel and the Lebanon War
• Hezbollah, Hamas, and other groups that pose threats to Israeli security 

Reflections

• Pressure and power
• Dealing with constant threats

And much, much more …

Episode Notes

This week on SpyCast, we bring you a Double Bill featuring Shlomo Mofaz and Zohar Palti, two incredibly knowledgeable and experienced individuals within Israeli intelligence. Shlomo Mofaz is the former Head of Counter-terrorism Analysis for the Israeli Defense forces, and currently serves as the director of the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. Among positions within the IDF and the Ministry of Defense, Zohar Palti formerly served as the Head of Intelligence for the Mossad. 

This episode is the final installment of SpyCast’s month-long special series on Israeli intelligence. Completely coincidentally, this series has coincided with the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. We hope that through these episodes we’ve provided listeners with a bit of clarity and background on the conflict and its major players. As this series comes to a close, we encourage listeners to continue learning about the history and current events within the region and the immense role intelligence continues to play within it. 

And… 

Shlomo and Zohar both have conducted research after their respective careers in intelligence – Shlomo at the International Institute for Counter Terrorism and Zohar at Harvard’s Belfer Center and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Check out more of their expertise here and here. 

Quotes of the Week

“When you're dealing with intelligence, mistakes are very problematic … People make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, but you need to choose the best people that you can work with and you can count on to bring the information or the service that you need in real time.“ -Shlomo Mofaz.

“They can't be the best over here in the Middle East right now that we can deal with any threat in a radius of 2000 kilometers without being, in a way, superpowering intelligence. We are not superpowering other issues. In intelligence, we are really, really good. And this is, first of all, to protect our family. And secondly, surviving over here in the region. We have to be the best.” -Zohar Palti.

Resources 

SURFACE SKIM

*SpyCasts*

• Former Senior Indian Intelligence Officer with R&AW Special Secretary Vappala Balachandran (2023)
• Irish Garda Intelligence Chief with Assistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn (2023)
• Israeli Military Intelligence with IDF Brig. General (Res.) Yossi Kuperwasser (2023)
• The Counterintelligence Chief with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler (2023) 

*Beginner Resources*

• A Timeline of the Israel-Palestinian Conflict, E. Bubola, The New York Times (2023) [Timeline] 
• The Middle East's cold war, explained, YouTube (2017) [10 min. video]
• What is an intifada?, A.V., The Economist (2017)

DEEPER DIVE

Books

• Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations, R. Bergman (Random House, 2018) 
• Gideon's Spies: The Secret History of the Mossad, G. Thomas (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2015)
• 34 Days: Israel, Hezbollah, and the War in Lebanon, A. Harel & A. Issacharoff (St. Martin’s Press, 2008) 

Articles

• The Mission Ahead for Israel, Z. Palti & N. Neumann, The Washington Institute (2023)
• Israel's reservists drop everything and rush home, H. Coster & A. Cornwell, Reuters (2023) 
• ‘The Reserves Will Hold’ Changes in the Israel Defense Forces’ Operational Concept, D. Druck, The RUSI Journal (2021)
• Decision Making Processes in Counter-Terrorism Operations in Israel, A. Sofrin, Journal of Political Science and International Relations (2021) 
• What Is Hezbollah?, K. Robinson, Council on Foreign Relations (2020)
• Hezbollah 2020: Nasrallah's Complex Challenges, S. Mofaz, Israel Defense, (2020)

Video

• The Green Prince (2014) 

Primary Sources 

• A Strategic Assessment of the Hizballah War: Defeating the Iranian-Syrian Axis in Lebanon (2006) 
• The PLO Weapons Ship from Iran (2002)
• Israeli Perspectives on the Gulf Crisis (1990)
• The Intifada in Judea and Samaria: A View From the Field (1990)
• Judea and Samaria: Behind the Uprising (1988) 
• Hamas Covenant (1988)
• Israel’s “Peace for the Galilee” Operation in Lebanon – Some Initial Perspectives (1982) 
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United States and the Government of Israel on Strategic Cooperation (1981) 

*Wildcard Resource*

• Indiana “Dietrick” Jones?!
• Ever wanted to go on an architectural dig, intrigued by the prospect of finding an ancient artifact – or even treasure…grab your hat and bullwhip and book your dig for a day in Israel here!