The Shin Bet passed additional information to the CIA regarding the Palestinian organizations that were declared as terrorist organizations

After previous efforts failed, an Israeli security delegation visited Washington last week in another attempt to convince the administration to back the designation of the six organizations as terrorist organizations.

The affair caused sharp criticism against Israel in the Democratic Party.

The US State Department said the new information would be reviewed

Barak Ravid

13/09/2022

Tuesday, September 13, 2022, 10:31 p.m. Updated: 10:58 p.m.

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On video: The IDF during a raid on the headquarters of the organizations that Gantz declared as terrorist organizations (Walla system!)

An Israeli security delegation visited Washington last week in an attempt to convince the US State Department and the US Intelligence Agency to back Israel's designation of six Palestinian civil society organizations as terrorist organizations, senior Israeli and American officials said.

The information that Israel passed on did not cause the administration to change its approach.

Hamas operatives (Photo: Reuters)

why is it important

Defense Minister Benny Gantz's decision a year ago to declare the six organizations as terrorist organizations resulted in sharp criticism in the US and European countries. The criticism in the US came especially from Democratic members of Congress and liberal Jewish organizations.

Senior Israeli officials admitted that the move against the Palestinian organizations severely damaged Israel's image in the US, especially among supporters of the Democratic Party.

More in Walla!

"The CIA found no evidence that the Palestinian organizations are terrorist organizations"

To the full article

Behind the Scenes

Senior Israeli officials said that the delegation included representatives of the Shin Bet, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Members of the delegation met with representatives of the US State Department, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the US Director of National Intelligence.

The Israeli delegation presented up-to-date intelligence information regarding the six Palestinian organizations and alleged evidence regarding their involvement in the terrorist activities of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Israeli officials said.

A senior Israeli official said that the members of the delegation stressed to the American State Department and the CIA that Israel is not trying to suppress the activities of all Palestinian civil society organizations.

"We told the Americans that we acted against six organizations out of 250 similar organizations that operate in the West Bank because of their involvement in terrorism and not because of their political positions or because they say things we don't like," the Israeli official noted.

reminder

About a year ago, after the declaration of the six organizations as terrorist organizations, Israel transferred to the United States the intelligence information on which it based the declaration. For many months, the American intelligence agencies examined the information and formed an opinion on the matter.

A spokesperson for the American State Department said about three weeks ago that the information that Israel The offense did not cause the American government to change its attitude towards these six organizations.

In mid-August, the IDF raided the offices of several of these organizations, confiscated equipment and closed the offices.

The US State Department expressed concern over the move and stated that the US had asked Israel for clarification.

His decision drew sharp criticism.

Gantz (photo: official website, Mark Israel Salem)

what are they saying

The Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry, and the Shin Bet refused to comment on the matter.

A spokesman for the US State Department said in response: "Israeli officials continue to explain to the US the rationale and reasons for declaring six Palestinian non-governmental organizations as terrorist organizations. The US government is currently examining additional information that Israel The offense in question".

• news

• Army and security

Tags

• The Palestinians

• cia

• United States