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Israeli Intelligence Service
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Documents
Before Israel's founding, the FBI traced funding, support, and weapon smuggling networks operating within the United States to assist underground militant groups pushing for an independent Jewish state. Figures like Gideon Rafael who worked extensively in intelligence for the Jewish Agency and went on to help establish Israel's Foreign Ministry in 1948 were subjected to tactics such as telephone wiretapping, mail interception, and physical surveillance as U.S. intelligence tracked the transnational connections of the Zionist movement during that volatile period. Caught up in the dragnet were such operatives as AIPAC founder Isaiah L. Kenen, who worked for the Jewish Agency and Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. New York Times Middle East Correspondent Joseph M. Levy gained the trust of the nephew of the head of the Arab League to obtain 70 pages of secret documents. Levy then turned the documents over the Sanford H. Griffith an agent of the Anti-Defamation League who in turn provided them to offcials he deemed friendly to the Zionist cause at the US Department of State. In a November 24, 1950 memo to the London Legal Attache, John Edgar Hoover urged cooperation and use of the code name ISINT, "Israeli Intelligence Service, Espionage - IS." Correspondence about individuals engaged in espionage for Israel were urged to use the name of the individual followed by "Espionage - IS." Archivist's note: IRmep requested all files related to 65-58700, "Israeli Intelligence Service, ESP-IS" on March 14, 2014. On June 14, 2014 the FBI requested $705 to process the request. In 2015 the FBI cautioned the request could "take a couple of years." In March of 2018 the FBI advised the FOIA request was still on their "large track" and attempted later that year to negotiate a smaller release. In September, 2018 the FBI acknowledged our request that the FOIA be processed in full. By June of 2026 the FBI began releasing heavily redacted pages of the file under five separate FOIA release letters included with each release below. The files are presented as received, with the exception of the removal of spaces in the PDF file name URLs.
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| File | File Size | Excerpt/Description |
| InterimReleaseLetter1.pdf | 209 KB | Interim FOIA release letter number 1 |
| Section01.pdf | 3 MB | Labor Zionists broadcast from Brooklyn via shortwave radio. Gideon Ruffer of Jewish Agency intelligence, |
| Section02.pdf | 3 MB | FBI memo that Truman now nolonger so heavily swayed by Zionist pressure groups and behind the scenes campaigns. Cable messages on Lehi (Stern Gang) terroist Yitzhak Shamir, aka "Avivi." Later allegedly traded Jonathan Pollard secrets to the Soviet Union. Philip Alper smuggles TNT to Jewish fighters in Palestine, endangers New Yorkers, four accomplices. |
| Section03.pdf | 2.6 MB | AG denies Hoover request for technical surveillance. Al Schwimmer smuggling Lockheed Constellations, Jewish Agency weapons smuggling financier Nahum Bernstein, Gideon Rafael, American Zionist Council, Israeli diplomatic pouch handling, FARA case on Israel Speaks and David R. Wahl, S. Frederick Gronich, Haganah smuggling, |
| Section04.pdf | 1.7 MB | Gideon Rafael, Simon Menache, David Miron, Haganah officer, Ralph Irving Goldman, Yekutiel Keren, Abraham Brothman, Harry Slavin, Abraham Harmon. |
| Section05.pdf | 2.7 MB | Nahum Bernstein excused from smuggling trial because he has to travel to Israel. Ray Selk. Al Schwimmer. Meir Shalit. 9/8/1943 Washington, DC arrest for "disorderly conduct and a pervert." Aaron Gilat. Nahum Bernstein made "chargeable" statements. Chaim Herzog. Israel Speaks article on Teddy Kollek. Zionist Scouts, Rothschild connection. Israel Speaks article on Israeli inteligence community member Reuven Shiloah "expert on Arab affairs." |
| Section06.pdf | 2.6 MB | Major General John Henry Hilldring (1895 to 1974) hosted to speak at a New England conference for Israel. Eliezer Liebenstein (later known as Eliezer Livneh) an Israeli Zionist activist, journalist, publicist, and politician born in 1902 who later became a key ideologue for the Greater Israel movement |
| Section07pages1-37.pdf | 1.5 MB | In 1948, Rinna Grossman (the daughter of prominent British Zionist leader Meir Grossman) quit her job at Time magazine to volunteer at the Jewish Agency office in New York. At the time, the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover was intensely monitoring the Jewish Agency and affiliated Zionist groups over concerns regarding international political influence, unregistered foreign agents, and illegal funding networks. Meir Novick, Eliezer Liebenstein, Moshe Goldschmidt. |
| InterimReleaseLetter2.pdf | Interim FOIA release letter number 2 | |
| 1258687-1-Document1.PDF | List of tenants, inability of landlord to say anything about sublets. Moses Meugeroh tranporting undeclared 10 kilos of gold to israel. Ernest Hugh Traub working at Philco. Americans head to israel organized by Jewish Agency. | |
| 1258687-1-Document2.PDF |
Blanche and Myron Shepherd American Palestine Committee,
international Jewish pressure groups, American Zionist Council.
Place where Blanche answers the phone. Banker says Blanche has
no interest in local affairs, very intelligent. Eliezer Liebenstein and Jay Lovestone. Mapai, Ben Gurion connection. Jay Lovestone (born Jacob Liebenstein; Russian: Яков Либштейн; Yakov Libshtein; December 15, 1897 – March 7, 1990) was an American Communist activist and labor organizer. He was at various times a member of the Socialist Party of America, a leader of the Communist Party USA, leader of a small oppositionist party, and after becoming disenchanted with Stalinism became an anti-communist activist and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) asset. Lovestone was also a foreign policy advisor to the leadership of the AFL–CIO and various unions within it. Harold Nebensal Noro Films, Seymour Nebenzal president. In 1950, Seymour Nebenzal was a prominent independent film producer known for creating the original 1931 German masterpiece M and various Hollywood film noirs. In 1950, he was actively working on an American remake of M (released in 1951). The FBI and the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) were highly interested in Nebenzal’s production because the project became deeply entangled in the Hollywood Communist witch hunts. The investigation centered around several factors: • Hiring Left-Wing Hollywood Figures: Nebenzal hired director Joseph Losey and screenwriter Waldo Salt to work on the remake. Both Losey and Salt were under heavy scrutiny by the FBI and HUAC for their alleged ties to the Communist Party. • The Remake as a Political Allegory: Under Losey’s direction, the 1951 remake of M shifted from a story about a child killer to a sharp political allegory criticizing the mass hysteria, mob mentalities, and anti-communist paranoia sweeping America during the McCarthyism era. • Subsequent Blacklisting: Because of their involvement in the film and their political leanings, members of the creative team—including director Joseph Losey and star Howard da Silva—were officially blacklisted from Hollywood shortly after the film's release. Feeling the pressure of financial setbacks and the aggressive political climate in Hollywood, Nebenzal permanently relocated back to Germany in late 1950. In 1950, Nahum Hacohen (affectionately known as "Nomick") was an Israeli citizen and military veteran who was in the United States completing his higher education. He had served as a captain during Israel's War of Independence in 1948 before moving to the U.S. to attend Indiana University and later American University, where he studied political science and public administration. Eliezer Liebenstein steps down as editor of Hador - Mapei newspaper. 9/7/1950 setup of a centralized Israeli intelligence gathering clearinghouse Colonel S. Frederick Gronich was an American military intelligence officer who famously served as the Officer in Charge of the Documents Control Center in Frankfurt, Germany following World War II. In 1950, he transitioned into the civilian sector, briefly becoming a production executive at RKO Pictures before taking a prominent, decades-long role as the overseas representative for the Motion Picture Association (MPA). The FBI and military intelligence agencies kept a close eye on Gronich around 1950 due to his possession, authentication, and handling of highly sensitive captured Nazi materials, as well as his deep-rooted ties to international intelligence and foreign military strategy: Handling of Hitler's Personal Artifacts: Gronich was the intelligence officer responsible for securing and processing Adolf Hitler’s political testament, personal will, and marriage certificate after they were recovered by U.S. forces in Bavaria. Because FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover mandated strict authentication of these documents before they could be officially presented to the President or transferred to the Library of Congress, Gronich's chain of custody was heavily scrutinized. Preventing Neo-Nazi Veneration: Allied forces and intelligence services were highly concerned about how these documents were managed. There were deep fears that if the originals or unvetted copies were leaked or handled improperly, they could become symbols of veneration for emerging neo-Nazi elements in post-war Europe. Foreign Military Advisory Roles: In addition to his work with captured documents, Gronich had previously served as a principal military advisor to future Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion during Israel's 1948 War of Independence. During the heightened geopolitical paranoia of the early Cold War (circa 1950), American intelligence routinely tracked individuals with such high-level, clandestine military connections to foreign governments. Abraham and Arie Avivi Hebrew language docs to be transcribed by Eddleman |
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| 1258687-1-Document3.PDF |
Espionage - IS dubinsky In 1950, David Dubinsky was one of the most powerful and prominent labor leaders in the United States, serving as the long-time president of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU). The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) maintained a strong interest in Dubinsky and his inner circle during the 1950s for two distinct, overlapping reasons: anti-communist geopolitical operations and labor racketeering investigations. Phyllis gates, Yaakov Malkin, Jan Zankov In 1950, Phyllis Gates was a young woman originally from Dawson, Minnesota, working as a secretary in Hollywood most notably for the prominent talent agent Henry Willson. She is best remembered historically for her whirlwind, three-year marriage to film icon Rock Hudson starting in 1955, a union arranged by Willson to suppress media exposure regarding Hudson's homosexuality. However, the FBI’s primary interest regarding Phyllis Gates arose later in her life due to investigations involving Rock Hudson's associates and background checks. In 1950, Yaakov Malkin was a covert operative for the newly formed Israel Defense Forces (IDF) arms procurement branch, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was interested in him due to his involvement in an underground arms smuggling network. Who Was Yaakov Malkin in 1950? While famously known in his later life as a prominent Israeli professor, author, and secular humanist philosopher, Malkin’s early career involved deep underground security work. Following his service as a broadcasting officer in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, he was tasked by the Israeli government with secretly securing and transporting weapons for the young state. He was stationed abroad to oversee clandestine munitions pipelines moving through major international shipping hubs, specifically the ports of Marseille, France, and Baltimore, United States. Why Was the FBI Interested? The FBI targeted individuals in Malkin's circle for several key reasons: Violation of Federal Law: Smuggling weapons and surplus military equipment out of American ports like Baltimore directly violated U.S. federal laws, including the Neutrality Acts and strict post-WWII export control regulations. U.S. Embargoes: At the time, the United States maintained a strict embargo on sending weapons to the conflict zones in the Middle East. Underground Networks: The FBI actively monitored, tracked, and investigated the underground networks of Israeli operatives and American sympathizers who were secretly purchasing aircraft, ammunition, and artillery to send to Israel. If you want to know more, let me know if you would like to explore the specific tactics used by these early Israeli procurement networks or if you are interested in Malkin's later, more public career as a Tel Aviv University professor. AZEC and ZOA, no investigation, be alert for use in intelligence capacities. Fear of criticism that are investigation on religious or quasi religious organizations. 10/12/1950 UJA and ZOA - active investigation of ZOA practical - 9/19/1950 Samuel Perlman, possibly B'nai B'rith civil aviation Egypt Avivis |
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| 1258687-1-Document4.PDF |
Report distributed to State, Navy, Airforce and Army Delegation including Israeli foreign agent and AIPAC founder Isaiah Kenen - 10/25/1950 NYtimes article on economic issues conference Strictly confidential memo (censored) refers to Salter Haas - Levi Strauss co Estelle Rosenberg, associated Jewish organizations - covers Reuven Dafni bill at Fairmont hotel (not to be confused with Ethel Rosenberg) Jesse Coleman, 18 President of associated Jewish organizations, hosts Reuven Dafni P20 Avraham Harmon Appointed Counsellor at Israeli embassy dc. P42 leaks P45 Ultramar international corp. In 1950, Ultramar International Corp. was a New York-based covert front company used by agents of the newly established state of Israel to illegally purchase and smuggle military aircraft. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was deeply interested in the company because its operations directly violated the U.S. Neutrality Act and the American arms embargo. The Smuggling Operation & FBI Interest Following its independence in 1948, Israel was in desperate need of military equipment but faced strict international arms blockades, including a ban from the United States on exporting surplus World War II weapons to the Middle East. To bypass these legal restrictions, Israeli operatives (including prominent figures like Al Schwimmer) established a network of domestic and international front companies, with Ultramar International Corp being a key hub in New York. The Scheme: Ultramar International Corp would buy surplus U.S. military combat and transport aircraft—including North American P-51 Mustangs and Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando cargo planes—under the guise of civil use or for export to friendly third-party nations. The Destination: Once the paperwork was approved, the planes were quietly rerouted and shipped directly to the Israel Defense Force Air Force (IDFAF), where they immediately entered active combat squadrons. Because the FBI is tasked with protecting internal security and enforcing federal laws regarding illegal arms trafficking, agents actively tracked Ultramar’s financial transactions, registry manipulation, and aircraft movements. Their investigations eventually exposed how these military assets were being deregistered and funneled into foreign service P47 classified information of various us government agencies…..censored. P51 Miami Herald Jewish War Veterans. Bernard Koloff, Hallmark labs |
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| 1258687-1-Document5.PDF |
11/20/1950 Youval Tal enters US, becomes official of Israeli
gov't There is no historical evidence or official record indicating that Yuval Tal (born Youval Tal Carmitemkin / Yuvall Temkin in 1920) was an Israeli spy in 1950. Public records from MyHeritage Family Trees and U.S. Alien Registrations show that he was born in 1920 to Mordechai and Sarah Temkin, married in Jerusalem in 1944, and lived as a student during his early adult life. His unique alternative name combo, Youval Tal Carmitemkin, appears primarily in historical U.S. immigration and alien registration files spanning 1940–1954 W. Raymond Wannall (W.R. Wannall) was a prominent Assistant Director of the FBI who spent over three decades with the Bureau, primarily heading its operations related to counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and espionage Norman Moonitz, Service Airway (smuggling front) In 1950, Norman Moonitz was an American pilot who became a person of interest to the FBI due to his covert activities smuggling weapons and flying combat missions for the fledgling State of Israel. • Background: He was a former U.S. Army Air Corps pilot and a Brooklyn firefighter. • The Secret Mission: In 1948, Moonitz was recruited by the Haganah (the Jewish paramilitary organization) to join the Machal—the group of foreign volunteers fighting in the Israeli War of Independence. He served under Israel's Air Transport Command. • Covert Operations: Between 1948 and 1952, Moonitz flew heavily modified B-17 bombers and C-46 transport planes. He was responsible for high-stakes, illegal operations smuggling weapon parts and aircraft components out of Europe (often Czechoslovakia) into Israel under the nose of international embargoes. He also piloted flights for Operation Magic Carpet, evacuating Yemenite Jews to Israel. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] Why Was He of Interest to the FBI in 1950? During the late 1940s and early 1950s, the United States maintained a strict arms embargo on the Middle East, making it illegal for American citizens to smuggle military equipment or enlist in foreign militaries. Because Moonitz and his fellow American aviators (including Al Schwimmer, the mastermind of the smuggling operation) actively violated the Neutrality Acts to procure and deliver combat planes, the FBI launched aggressive investigations into their network. Many of his peers faced federal indictments, asset forfeitures, and the loss of their U.S. citizenship. Despite the federal scrutiny, Moonitz avoided major prosecution, stayed in the region for a four-year tenure, and eventually became one of the very first commercial pilots for Israel's national airline, El Al Meir Novik, residing with Samuel Perlman. 12/14/1950 Fritz Eshet, aka Eisenstadt In 1950, Fritz Eshet (born Fritz Eisenstadt, later known as Shalom Eshet) was a former Austrian military officer and prominent Israeli military figure. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, he served as a crucial military advisor to Jerusalem regional commander David Shaltiel and Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion. He was responsible for delivering high-level strategic intelligence and battlefield assessments directly to Israel's leadership. Regarding the mention of him being a "person of interest to the FBI," there is no public or declassified historical record linking Fritz Eshet to FBI investigations or surveillance during 1950. It is highly probable that his name has been confused with another individual from declassified Cold War-era FBI files, or that you are referring to a highly specific, niche intelligence file. P119 ADL details spying on Arab league figures. Herman Edelsberg. Nytimes reporter gets information from Arab league, forwards to ADL, which uses it to curry favor with State (gold) giving to W. Park Armstrong. W. Park Armstrong Jr. (1907–1985) served as the Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Intelligence (later Research and Intelligence) starting on June 11, 1950. Key Details from 1950 and Background • Role in 1950: He took office as the Special Assistant for Intelligence at the U.S. State Department on June 11, 1950, and also chaired the Communications Intelligence Board. • Early Life & Education: Born in 1907 in Princeton, New Jersey, he attended the Lawrenceville School and Phillips Academy (Andover) before graduating with a B.A. from Princeton University in 1929. Wall Street Career: For 13 years prior to World War II, he worked in investment banking in New York City. World War II Service: He joined the Board of Economic Warfare in Washington in 1942 focusing on Far East economic intelligence, served as an Army Major in G-2 (General Staff) handling economic intelligence on Japan, and joined the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey in September 1945. P51 repeat of Jewish War Veterans |
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In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is presented without profit for research and educational purposes, most importantly understanding how government functions during law enforcement actions involving Israel and its lobbyists. The Israel Lobby Archive has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of the content. It it is not endorsed or sponsored by the originator.
The
FBI monitored and investigated pre-state Zionist leaders and early
Israeli diplomats during the 1940s primarily out of concern over their
connections to the underground Jewish militia and paramilitary movements
in Palestine (such as the Haganah, Irgun, and Stern Gang).