Officers and soldiers of Tzahal, as IDF is called in Israel, have recently been warned by the Information Security Department, a counter-intelligence body of the military intelligence, to beware of possible recruitment attempts by the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States, according to a Sunday report by Israeli Channel 2.
The memo addressed to all Tzahal officers and soldiers recommends they stay alert and “be aware and report any unusual incidences”.
Under a starry sky, our soldiers are watching over the State of Israel. #ShabbatShalom from the #IDF pic.twitter.com/ZAunasqMUa
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) October 30, 2015
To illustrate the case, an article from the Hebrew daily Yediot Aharonot was attached. It draws upon reported incidents from the past when Israeli youngsters, who have recently served in Tzahal, were extensively questioned by American authorities upon arrival in the United States. This was reportedly aimed at recruiting their services.
"Israelis former IDF stopped at JFK questioned for hours, which later turned out to be an attempt to recruit them to the CIA."
— slone (@slone) November 1, 2015
2012: "The Americans (CIA) were looking for ways to access the IDF's classified units so they can know Israel's strike plans for Iran."
— slone (@slone) November 1, 2015
“Every security body fears having its confidential information leaked,” a Channel 2 military source commented on the issue.
How do they know when an #IDF soldier was recruited by CIA? He wants 2 waste billions on training 3 Syrian Rebels… pic.twitter.com/XdbnoqzBpZ
— Seth Frantzman (@sfrantzman) November 1, 2015
It remains unclear why the warning was being issued now.