Former Israeli Intelligence Official Reveals Secrets of Working Inside Mossad and the Role of 'Deception' in Executing Missions

Former Mossad official, Ram Ben Barak, revealed unusual aspects of the nature of work within the agency, pointing out that the ability to deceive is one of the most important skills required for intelligence personnel.
Ben Barak explained during an interview with the Walla podcast that intelligence work requires exceptional abilities that allow personnel to adapt to different environments and execute complex missions away from traditional methods.

Bypassing Laws and Changing Work Methods

The former official admitted that there were legal violations during the execution of some missions, noting that he later worked to amend several regulatory rules, including enhancing the role of women within the agency.
He emphasized that intelligence work often relies more on cunning and deception than on direct military force, pointing out that the success of operations is linked to the ability of personnel to adapt to rapid changes in the field.

Challenges in Attracting Talent

Ben Barak noted that one of the main challenges facing the institution is securing personnel with unconventional capabilities, capable of innovation and surpassing traditional job patterns, in line with the complex nature of intelligence work.

Decisions to Cancel Sensitive Operations

In the context of discussing his professional experience, the former official revealed that he defied orders to execute two intelligence operations in two countries, after assessing the presence of high risks and field complexities.
He explained that he informed the head of the agency at the time, Meir Dagan, of his decision to postpone the operations before their execution, despite having received political approval, justifying this by security and operational considerations.

Increasing Intelligence Competition Regionally

These statements come at a time when intelligence competition in the region is escalating, amid international moves to enhance security capabilities, including reports of measures taken by China within Iran to counter intelligence breaches.