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7/9/2025, 8:29:22 PM
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Jonathan Pollard Spy Case (1980s–2015): One of the most dramatic U.S.–Israel intelligence incidents was the conviction of U.S. Navy analyst Jonathan Pollard for spying for Israel in 1987. Declassified documents show Pollard delivered over 800 classified documents and daily intelligence summaries to his Israeli handlers. Pollard’s espionage “became a constant source of tension between the United States and Israel,” and American intelligence leaders (e.g. CIA Director George Tenet) were reportedly outraged – even threatening resignation if Pollard were released early (His eventual release in 2015 required presidential approval and was a major political issue.)
Leaked NSA memos revealed that U.S. intelligence agencies have agreed to share unfiltered data with Israel, including incidental collection on Americans. A 2009 NSA–Israel memorandum obtained by Glenn Greenwald shows that the NSA routinely sent raw (pre-minimized) SIGINT to Israel. This deal – confirmed by U.S. officials – sparked debate about whether it broke U.S. privacy safeguards. In short, Mossad’s access to raw NSA data (as exposed by Snowden) forced U.S. policymakers and the public to re-examine surveillance practices.
Israeli intelligence (including Mossad-derived information) has occasionally affected American policy discussions. For example, Netanyahu’s 2018 disclosure of Iran’s captured nuclear archive – based on Mossad findings – entered U.S. media coverage and political debate. U.S. officials subsequently interpreted the archives differently (arguing they reinforced the need for the Iran nuclear deal). In general, while Israel provides valuable intelligence to Washington, U.S. policymakers ultimately weigh that information against other evidence.
Jonathan Pollard Spy Case (1980s–2015): One of the most dramatic U.S.–Israel intelligence incidents was the conviction of U.S. Navy analyst Jonathan Pollard for spying for Israel in 1987. Declassified documents show Pollard delivered over 800 classified documents and daily intelligence summaries to his Israeli handlers. Pollard’s espionage “became a constant source of tension between the United States and Israel,” and American intelligence leaders (e.g. CIA Director George Tenet) were reportedly outraged – even threatening resignation if Pollard were released early (His eventual release in 2015 required presidential approval and was a major political issue.)
Leaked NSA memos revealed that U.S. intelligence agencies have agreed to share unfiltered data with Israel, including incidental collection on Americans. A 2009 NSA–Israel memorandum obtained by Glenn Greenwald shows that the NSA routinely sent raw (pre-minimized) SIGINT to Israel. This deal – confirmed by U.S. officials – sparked debate about whether it broke U.S. privacy safeguards. In short, Mossad’s access to raw NSA data (as exposed by Snowden) forced U.S. policymakers and the public to re-examine surveillance practices.
Israeli intelligence (including Mossad-derived information) has occasionally affected American policy discussions. For example, Netanyahu’s 2018 disclosure of Iran’s captured nuclear archive – based on Mossad findings – entered U.S. media coverage and political debate. U.S. officials subsequently interpreted the archives differently (arguing they reinforced the need for the Iran nuclear deal). In general, while Israel provides valuable intelligence to Washington, U.S. policymakers ultimately weigh that information against other evidence.
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