Israeli Espionage and Passport Fraud
Documentation of Israeli intelligence operations against allied nations and fraudulent use of foreign passports.
Fraudulent Use of Foreign Passports
Israeli intelligence services have repeatedly used forged, stolen, or fraudulently obtained passports from allied nations to conduct operations abroad. This practice has caused significant diplomatic crises with multiple countries.
Documented Incidents by Operation
Lillehammer Affair (1973) – Norway
- Mossad agents used Canadian passports
- After agents were arrested, Canada protested the fraudulent use of its passports
- First major international exposure of this practice
Khaled Mashal Assassination Attempt (1997) – Jordan
- Agents used Canadian passports
- Canada recalled its ambassador from Israel
- Formal diplomatic protest lodged
- Canada demanded assurances it would not happen again
New Zealand Passport Scandal (2004)
- Two Israeli agents arrested attempting to fraudulently obtain New Zealand passports
- Passports were to be obtained using identity of a cerebral palsy patient
- Agents convicted and imprisoned
- New Zealand imposed diplomatic sanctions:
- Suspended high-level contacts
- Cancelled pending visit by Israeli president
- Imposed visa requirements on Israeli diplomats
- Israel eventually apologized (2011)
Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh Assassination (2010) – Dubai
The most extensively documented case of passport fraud due to Dubai's comprehensive CCTV coverage:
Passports used by the 26+ person hit squad:
| Country | Number of Passports | Response |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 12 | Expelled Israeli diplomat |
| Ireland | 8 | Expelled Israeli diplomat |
| France | 3 | Summoned Israeli ambassador |
| Germany | 3 | Summoned Israeli ambassador |
| Australia | 4 | Expelled Israeli diplomat |
Key details: – Passports were cloned from real dual-nationals living in Israel – Identities stolen without the knowledge of passport holders – Dubai released CCTV footage and passport photos of operatives – Multiple countries conducted criminal investigations
Diplomatic fallout: – UK: Expelled a Mossad representative; Foreign Secretary David Miliband stated it was “intolerable” that Israel had forged UK passports – Australia: Expelled Israeli diplomat; PM Kevin Rudd called it a “serious matter” – Ireland: Expelled diplomat; Foreign Minister described it as “outrageous” – Germany: Issued formal protest – France: Summoned ambassador for explanation
Pattern of Allied Nations Targeted
Countries whose passports have been documented as fraudulently used:
- Canada – Multiple incidents (1973, 1997)
- United Kingdom – Multiple incidents (2010 confirmed, others suspected)
- Australia – 2004, 2010
- New Zealand – 2004
- Ireland – 2010
- France – 2010
- Germany – 2010
- Belgium – Suspected in multiple operations
- United States – Alleged but not confirmed in official reports
Implications
- Endangers citizens of allied nations traveling in hostile regions
- Victims of identity theft face potential retaliation
- Undermines passport security and trust between allies
- Despite repeated promises to stop, the practice has continued
Espionage Against Allied Countries
Despite being a close ally of Western nations, particularly the United States, Israel has conducted extensive intelligence operations against its allies. US intelligence officials have repeatedly identified Israel as one of the most aggressive intelligence services targeting America.
United States
Assessment by US Intelligence
CIA and FBI assessments: – Israel consistently ranked among the top intelligence threats to the United States – 2014: US intelligence officials told Newsweek that Israel's espionage activities against America are “unrivaled and unseemly” – Former CIA counterintelligence chief stated Israel “ichampions all others” in espionage against the US – NSA documents (Snowden leaks) listed Israel among “leading threats” to US cyber security – FBI counterintelligence division has dedicated significant resources to Israeli operations
Congressional awareness: – Multiple classified briefings to Congress on Israeli espionage – 2015: Wall Street Journal reported Israel spied on US-Iran nuclear negotiations and shared intelligence with Congressional opponents of the deal – US officials described this as particularly damaging breach of trust
Jonathan Pollard Case (1985)
The most damaging espionage case involving Israel against the United States.
The spy: – Jonathan Jay Pollard, US Navy intelligence analyst – Had top-secret security clearance – Worked at Naval Intelligence Support Center
The espionage: – Recruited by Israeli intelligence in 1984 – Passed classified documents to Israel from 1984-1985 – Provided approximately 360 cubic feet of classified documents – Included daily intelligence summaries, signal intelligence reports, satellite imagery – Some of the most sensitive US intelligence on Soviet and Arab military capabilities
Materials compromised: – NSA radio-signal intelligence manual (10 volumes) – Intelligence on Soviet weapons systems – US intelligence methods and sources – Information on Arab military capabilities – Details of US reconnaissance satellite operations
Arrest and aftermath: – Arrested November 21, 1985 after attempting to seek asylum at Israeli embassy (denied entry) – Israel initially claimed Pollard was part of “rogue operation” – Pollard pleaded guilty; sentenced to life in prison – Israel granted him citizenship in 1995 – Acknowledged as Israeli agent in 1998 – Released in 2015 after 30 years – Moved to Israel in 2020; received hero's welcome from Prime Minister Netanyahu
Damage assessment: – Described by US officials as one of the most damaging espionage cases in US history – Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger's classified damage assessment reportedly detailed severe harm to US national security – Some intelligence officials believe materials were traded to Soviet Union in exchange for Jewish emigration rights
Ongoing controversy: – Israel lobbied for decades for Pollard's release – Multiple US intelligence and defense officials opposed early release – Case remains point of tension in US-Israel relations
Lawrence Franklin / AIPAC Case (2005)
The case: – Lawrence Franklin, Pentagon analyst on Iran policy – Passed classified information to two AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) officials – Steven Rosen (AIPAC policy director) and Keith Weissman (senior Iran analyst) – Information allegedly passed to Israeli government officials
Details: – Franklin pleaded guilty to passing classified defense information – Information related to potential attacks on US forces in Iraq and US policy on Iran – AIPAC officials initially charged under Espionage Act – Charges against AIPAC officials dropped in 2009 (government cited difficulties in prosecution) – Franklin sentenced to 12 years (later reduced) – Both Rosen and Weissman left AIPAC
Significance: – Revealed Israeli intelligence cultivation of sources in US policy circles – Demonstrated AIPAC's role as conduit for Israeli intelligence interests – Case exposed deep Israeli penetration of US national security establishment
Ben-Ami Kadish Case (2008)
Background: – 84-year-old retired US Army mechanical engineer – Worked at Picatinny Arsenal (weapons research facility) in 1980s – Arrested in 2008 for espionage conducted decades earlier
The espionage: – Passed classified documents to same Israeli handler as Pollard (Yosef Yagur) – Documents on nuclear weapons, F-15 fighter jet, Patriot missile system – Spied for Israel between 1979-1985 – Photographed classified documents and passed film to Israeli consulate in New York
Outcome: – Pleaded guilty – Sentenced to no prison time (given age and time elapsed) – Fined $50,000 – Case demonstrated long-running Israeli intelligence operations in US
Spying on US-Iran Nuclear Negotiations (2015)
Wall Street Journal investigation: – Israel systematically spied on closed-door US-Iran nuclear negotiations – Used human intelligence sources and signals intelligence – Intercepted communications of American negotiators – Obtained details of emerging nuclear deal
Information sharing: – Israel shared intercepted intelligence with members of US Congress – Used to build opposition to Iran nuclear deal – US officials described this as “ichurning diplomacy” and breach of trust – White House expressed “ichurn” over Israeli spying
US response: – Officials told WSJ this went beyond normal allied intelligence gathering – Damaged trust between intelligence services – No public repercussions for Israel
Other US Cases
Stewart Nozette (2009): – NASA scientist with top-secret clearance – Arrested in FBI sting operation – Attempted to sell classified information to Israeli intelligence – Believed he was communicating with Mossad agent (actually FBI) – Had previous relationship with Israeli Aerospace Industries – Sentenced to 13 years
Alleged technology theft: – Patriot missile technology (1980s allegations) – US drone technology – Nuclear weapons-related information – Advanced avionics systems
United Kingdom
Israeli Embassy Expulsions
1987: – UK expelled an Israeli diplomat suspected of intelligence activities – Details remain classified
2010 (Dubai assassination): – UK expelled Israeli diplomat (Mossad representative) – Response to cloning of British passports for Dubai operation – Foreign Secretary David Miliband stated Israeli actions were “intolerable”
2024: – Reports of Israeli surveillance of British officials involved in arms export decisions – Government concerns about Israeli intelligence activities on UK soil
Germany
Historical operations: – West German intelligence (BND) penetrated by Israeli intelligence during Cold War – Israeli agents recruited German scientists to prevent work on Egyptian missile program (1960s) – Letter bomb campaign against German scientists working for Egypt
Modern era: – 2010: German passports forged for Dubai assassination – Germany summoned Israeli ambassador – Ongoing concerns about Israeli intelligence activities
France
LAKAM operations: – Israel's Scientific Liaison Bureau (LAKAM) actively targeted French technology – Nuclear technology theft documented in French investigations – Multiple French citizens recruited as Israeli agents
Passport fraud: – French passports used in Dubai assassination (2010) – France summoned Israeli ambassador
Australia
Passport scandals: – 2004: Two Israeli agents imprisoned for attempting to fraudulently obtain Australian passports – 2010: Australian passports cloned for Dubai assassination – Australia expelled Israeli diplomat – Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called it “not the act of a friend”
Ben Zygier (“Prisoner X”): – Australian-Israeli dual citizen recruited by Mossad – Used Australian passport for intelligence operations – Compromised Australian passport integrity – Died in secret Israeli detention (2010) – Case revealed Israeli exploitation of dual nationals for intelligence purposes
New Zealand
2004 Passport Scandal: – Two Israeli agents (Uriel Kelman and Eli Cara) arrested – Attempted to fraudulently obtain New Zealand passport – Targeted identity of a severely disabled man – Both convicted and imprisoned – New Zealand imposed diplomatic sanctions: – High-level contacts suspended – Israeli president's planned visit cancelled – Visa requirements imposed on Israeli diplomats – Israel apologized years later (2011)
Canada
Repeated incidents: – Canadian passports used in Lillehammer affair (1973) – Canadian passports used in Khaled Mashal assassination attempt (1997) – Canada recalled ambassador from Israel after Mashal incident – Despite assurances, passport abuse continued
Switzerland
Alleged Operations: – Surveillance of UN offices in Geneva – Monitoring of Iranian diplomatic communications – Operations related to nuclear negotiations
Broader Patterns
Methods documented: – Recruitment of dual nationals (Israeli-American, Israeli-Australian, etc.) – Exploitation of Jewish diaspora communities – Cyber operations against allied government networks – Human intelligence cultivation in policy circles – Technology theft from defense contractors – Signals intelligence collection on allied communications
US Intelligence assessment themes: – Israeli intelligence operations described as “aggressive” and “relentless” – Israel characterized as treating the US as both ally and intelligence target – US counterintelligence devotes significant resources to Israeli operations – Pattern of minimal consequences enabling continued operations
Diplomatic impact: – Repeated diplomatic crises with allies – Expulsions of Israeli diplomats from multiple countries – Promises to cease operations not honored – Allied trust repeatedly damaged