A recent documentary has exposed vulnerabilities within the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet), challenging the long-held notion of it being an impenetrable fortress. The film, titled “Breach from Within,” details the shocking stories of spies who not only deceived the agency from the outside but also infiltrated its ranks and held positions of extreme sensitivity, causing significant strategic damage.
Levi Levi: The Spy Inside the Shin Bet
The case of Levi Levi remains a source of frustration for former Shin Bet leaders. This Polish Jewish immigrant, who arrived in Israel in the summer of 1948, successfully secured a sensitive position within the Shin Bet’s “Operations Department” for 11 years (1948-1957). According to testimonies from former officers featured in the documentary, Levi’s official task was to plant listening devices in Eastern European embassies in Tel Aviv. However, he was simultaneously providing his handlers in Polish intelligence with details of these operations, warning them of impending actions. This gave them a significant advantage in deceiving the Israelis for years.
One intelligence analyst described Levi’s breach as akin to “putting the wolf in charge of guarding the milk.” His motivations were primarily financial, as he enjoyed a lavish lifestyle funded by the Polish. His exposure forced the Shin Bet to overhaul its operational methods and code names.
The ‘Traitor’ in Ben-Gurion’s Office
The infiltration wasn’t limited to lower-level employees. The documentary also sheds light on Israel Beer, who immigrated to Israel in the early 1940s and rose to become a senior officer and special advisor to then-Prime Minister and Defense Minister David Ben-Gurion.
Beer exploited his high-ranking position and reputation as a strategic expert, authoring several military books and lecturing at military gatherings, to access sensitive tactics and confidential consultations within the Prime Minister’s office. His actions compromised national security at the highest level.
