From the Liveblog of
Sunday, April 9, 2023
Mossad on US reports that spy agency heads stirred anti-overhaul protests: ‘Completely false, absurd’
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The Prime Minister’s Office issues a statement on behalf of the Mossad, denying US reports that senior officials at the spy agency encouraged its employees and citizens to protest the government’s contentious judicial overhaul plans.
“The publication in the American press is completely false and absurd,” the statement reads.
“The Mossad and its officials did not and do not encourage employees in the organization to go to demonstrations against the government, to political demonstrations in general, or to any political activity,” the statement reads.
“The Mossad and its incumbent officials did not deal at all with the issue of the protests, and have remained loyal to the value of stateliness that have guided the Mossad since its establishment,” the statement concludes.
Experts have suggested that the US intel report may have confused former officials with serving ones, or that it may be an attempt at misinformation.
In February, it was reported that Mossad chief David Barnea allowed junior employees of the intelligence agency to take part in the protests. Department heads and anyone more senior was barred from taking part, the Hebrew media reports added.
The Times of Israel Community.