Mossad

Mossad is the common abbreviation for ha-Mossad le-Modiin ule-Tafkidim Meyuhadim or Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, the main external intelligence and covert action organization of Israel. Its responsibilities correspond roughly to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and British Secret Intelligence Service. As with those countries, it is complemented by a military intelligence service and a domestic security service. Its director is Meir Dagan, whose appointment has been continued beyond the usual retirement.

According to its website, its missions are:

• "Covert intelligence gathering beyond Israel’s borders." This is principally human-source, but probably includes signals intelligence and measurement and signature intelligence collection outside the country.
• "Preventing the development and procurement of non-conventional weapons by hostile countries."
• "Preventing terrorist acts against Israeli targets abroad."
• "Developing and maintaining special diplomatic and other covert relations": liaison with foreign intelligence services, non-national groups, and plausibly deniable interactions with countries with which Israel has no diplomatic relations
• "Bringing Jews home from countries where official Aliyah agencies are not allowed to operate".
• "Producing strategic, political and operational intelligence.
• "Planning and carrying out special operations beyond Israel’s borders".