A new fiasco is cause of resignation of Israeli chief of Intelligence
Israel-Jordan, International, 2/25/1998

Israel unofficially admitted that the resignation of its highly-esteemed Mossad followed an operational fault during a covert action taken by Mossad agents in a European country that has the best and warmest relations with Israel.

No details could be published on this operational fault which is expected to cause a severe diplomatic rift in relations between Israel and this European country but leaks in Israel spoke of the fact that Mossad agents were arrested hot-handed during their operation in that country.

Mossad chief Dany Yatom presented his resignation Tuesday to Israeli prime minister Benyamin Netanyahu, who is the sole and direct official in charge of all Mossad operations. Speculations in the beginning spoke of the latest diplomatic crisis with Jordan as being the reason for Yatom's resignation. Yatom was blamed for the ill-fated Mossad operation last September in which agents tried to assassinate Hamas political activist Khaled Mishal.

Since then, relations with Jordan were rough and King Hussein of Jordan personally was irritated by the attempt and threatened to take further action if the antidote of the chemical poison used by the Mossad agents was not brought immediately to Jordan. Only after the king called US president Bill Clinton and asked for his urgent intervention that Israel agreed and sent Yatom to Amman with the antidote.

Jordanian officials had expressed grief at the fact that Yatom was finally leaving the Mossad, since he was seen as directly responsible for the attack on Mishal. The new revelations in Israel about the real reason for Yatom's resignation is not expected to add up to Jordanians' joy. Observers believe now that Jordan might take a further tougher stand against Israel, and perhaps would push more to restart the peace talks on the Palestinian track.

Previous Stories:
  Jordan glad Israeli intelligence chief is out   (2/25/1998)
  Jordan Kicks Mossad out and Yatom to take fall for Netanyahu   (10/10/1997)
  Hamas and Arafat and the King   (10/7/1997)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search