Sunni Man
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- Aug 14, 2008
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'Sayanim' is a term for a Mossad operative recruited from among the Jewish Diaspora to help the Mossad with operations outside Israel, utilising the capacity of their own nationality to procure assistance. While not official Mossad agents and sometimes acting without explicit knowledge, they may work in the capacity of unregistered representatives of the government of Israel in their respective nations.
Generally-speaking, these non-Israeli Jewish volunteers are asked to engage in legal activities that will not bring them into trouble with the authorities. There are exceptions, however, as for example in the case of Jonathan Pollard, the U.S. Naval intelligence employee who engaged in espionage on behalf of Israel's intelligence agencies and whose exposure by the FBI strained relations between the U.S. and Israel.
Victor Ostrovsky, a former Mossad katsa turned author, wrote extensively about activities of the sayanim, as has Gordon Thomas. According Ostrovsky and Thomas, the sayanim provide assistance of various kinds to Mossad officers operating in foreign countries.
In his book "By Way of Deception", Ostrovsky describes the following examples of services the sayanim might provide using their citizenship or residency status or occupation:
*The operator of a car rental agency can rent a car without completing the proper paperwork.
*An apartment manager can provide an apartment without raising suspicions.
*A bank owner or manager can assist in obtaining, exchanging, tranfering or laundering money.
*A doctor can operate on a bullet wound without making a report.
*Merchants can provide large quantities of their wares or help establish false business fronts.
*Employees in high technology can provide direct information on civilian and military technology. Ostrovsky uses the French Exocet missile as an example of military technology that was compromised in this manner.
Sayanim were reportedly vital to the assassinations by the Mossad in Operation Wrath of God of those responsible for the Black September attacks.
Sayanim must be 100% Jewish. They live abroad, and though they are not Israeli citizens, many are reached through their relatives in Israel.
Ostrovsky claims that for London alone the Mossad has a list of thousands of recruited and willing sayanim.
Gordon Thomas estimates that in the United States and Britain, there are at least 20,000 sayanim who aid Israel's intelligence agencies in a number of ways.
Sayanim - Israel's and Mossad's Jewish helpers abroad
Generally-speaking, these non-Israeli Jewish volunteers are asked to engage in legal activities that will not bring them into trouble with the authorities. There are exceptions, however, as for example in the case of Jonathan Pollard, the U.S. Naval intelligence employee who engaged in espionage on behalf of Israel's intelligence agencies and whose exposure by the FBI strained relations between the U.S. and Israel.
Victor Ostrovsky, a former Mossad katsa turned author, wrote extensively about activities of the sayanim, as has Gordon Thomas. According Ostrovsky and Thomas, the sayanim provide assistance of various kinds to Mossad officers operating in foreign countries.
In his book "By Way of Deception", Ostrovsky describes the following examples of services the sayanim might provide using their citizenship or residency status or occupation:
*The operator of a car rental agency can rent a car without completing the proper paperwork.
*An apartment manager can provide an apartment without raising suspicions.
*A bank owner or manager can assist in obtaining, exchanging, tranfering or laundering money.
*A doctor can operate on a bullet wound without making a report.
*Merchants can provide large quantities of their wares or help establish false business fronts.
*Employees in high technology can provide direct information on civilian and military technology. Ostrovsky uses the French Exocet missile as an example of military technology that was compromised in this manner.
Sayanim were reportedly vital to the assassinations by the Mossad in Operation Wrath of God of those responsible for the Black September attacks.
Sayanim must be 100% Jewish. They live abroad, and though they are not Israeli citizens, many are reached through their relatives in Israel.
Ostrovsky claims that for London alone the Mossad has a list of thousands of recruited and willing sayanim.
Gordon Thomas estimates that in the United States and Britain, there are at least 20,000 sayanim who aid Israel's intelligence agencies in a number of ways.
Sayanim - Israel's and Mossad's Jewish helpers abroad
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