Israel security breach revealed in sensitive intelligence unit 

Israel’s channel I24 revealed on Wednesday that a serious security breach has occurred in a facility that houses one of the most sensitive intelligence units operated by the Israel Defence Forces. The channel said that it sent a private investigator in civilian clothes and equipped with a hidden camera and he managed to enter the unguarded building and walk around easily without anyone asking him for his identification card.

I24 reported that the investigator listened to the conversations of soldiers and senior officials, walked down the halls where private offices are located and managed to access all of the floors in the facility without being stopped or questioned.

“To enter the sensitive facility and view highly classified materials, one must pass through a single door through which several people enter together, without the need for identification cards,” explained the channel. “Some floors contain classified information and are served by senior officials under detection procedures.”

The channel added that the occupation army’s Information Security Department conducted an audit of the secret facility last January, as computers containing classified information were stolen. The unit failed the audit, and according to the testimonies of former soldiers, the issue was raised several times with the unit’s heads without any action being taken.

“This is a civilian building integrated with military units in separate complexes, with many identification and protection mechanisms, along with clear security procedures that require all employees of the building to enter with a valid permit and personal identification,” an Israeli army spokesman told I24. “The audit mentioned [in January] was internal, and shortcomings were found. A comprehensive investigation was conducted and was sent to the commanders for their knowledge. The parties involved were tried and punished.”

Regarding the new security breach revealed by the channel, the head of Israel’s National Security Agency, Aharon Haliva, has appointed Intelligence Chief Avi Kenan to investigate the incident.

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