Title: Mossad - The Greatest Missions of the Israeli Secret Service
Authors: Michael Bar-Zohar & Nissim Mishal
Genre: Non-fiction, History, Politics
Published: 2016
BookMarks
Mossad - the Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, and its motto chosen from Proverbs 11:14: "Without stratagems would a people fall, and deliverance is in a wise counsel."
The book gives an account of the major missions carried out by Mossad over the years. There is a marked change in the nature of missions - bringing Jews home safely from across the globe, finding Nazi war criminals, kidnapping a MIG21, defending Israel against its many enemies including nipping nuclear threats in the bud, avenging terrorist acts, even finding a young boy kidnapped by his own family etc.
There are quite a few great stories, they are mostly somber but the one about how they landed up with Khruschev's speech denouncing Stalin was quite funny!
It is also an account of how each ramsad (head of Mossad) played a role in shaping the institution. There is also a glimpse of the power dynamics constantly at work between the multiple agencies including the political government!
A few notable quotes from the book
- The dirtiest actions should be carried out by the most honest men.
- spare no effort, no means, and no sacrifice, to bring our people back home.
- Sometimes the missions to bring home a nation's own are the most meaningful.
Reading about the high regard for MIG 21 globally comes as a surprise given the high frequency of crashes the past few years.
Overall, a pacy and engaging read providing a glimpse into the inner workings of one of the world’s premier intelligence agencies!
Previously on BookMarks: Dying to Meet You
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