Mossad – Inside the Missions

Israel might be a tiny country, but its revered spy agency – the Mossad – is the stuff of legend. While there’s so much the Mossad has done that we don’t know about (and will probably never be revealed), the missions that have been made public are mind-blowing. From capturing Adolf Eichmann, to ending Syria’s nuclear program and helping smuggle Ethiopian Jews to Israel, there are countless reasons the Mossad is not your average intelligence agency. Find out how this Israel intelligence agency came into being, why it’s so feared and respected, and discover the role it plays in the overall security of the world’s only Jewish state. After watching the video, use the prompts below to learn more and get your students thinking.

 

Please watch the video and answer the following questions: (You can send the answers via google doc or email. Due Monday, June 22

1. Of the following objectives of the Mossad, which do you think is most important
and why?
a. Neutralize military threats to the state of Israel
b. Bring justice to those who have harmed the Jewish people
c. Gather intelligence
d. Retaliate against the perpetrators of terror
e. Help Jewish refugees reach the land of Israel

2. As the only Jewish state in the world, Israel has taken upon itself the role of
“defender of the Jewish people”. Do you think that Israel is responsible for the
security of Jews worldwide?
3. The Mossad’s first motto is “For by stratagems, you wage war” from Proverbs
24:6. What is the meaning of this motto and how does it relate to the Mossad?
4. “Meir Dagan, former head of the Mossad, argues that neutralizing a few major
figures is often the more ethical choice because it can prevent the loss of lives of
countless soldiers and civilians” (Rise and Kill First). What do you make of this
argument? Does it outweigh the potential risks of targeted killing? List three
reasons for, and three reasons against, targeted killing.

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