Editorial review with news summary. As tensions rise between the US and Israel over Iran-related issues, the US Department of Defense has elevated the intelligence threat level posed by Israel. Serious differences have emerged between US President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu concerning Iran and Lebanon strategies. US security agencies have remained cautious about Israeli espionage activities, especially considering past cases like Jonathan Pollard. 24 Jestha, Kathmandu. The dispute between the US and Israel over Iran has intensified. Amid this, the Pentagon has reportedly accused Israel of attempting to collect internal information on US officials and the Trump administration. According to an NBC News report citing two current and one former US official, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) recently raised the counter-intelligence threat level related to Israel to its highest alert status. This is notable given the close alliance between the US and Israel.
However, Israel has categorically denied these allegations. The Israeli Embassy stated that they do not spy on US officials; instead, their intelligence agencies focus surveillance efforts on adversaries. Since US officials rarely use phones or computers normally, those most affected by the counter-intelligence threat level increase are US personnel who visit Israel or have direct contact with Israeli officials. Nevertheless, the exchange of classified information between the US and Israel will continue. One US official told NBC that, during visits to Israel by high-ranking officials, special caution is exercised. US-based officials employ “burner phones” (temporary communication devices) and specialized computers instead of regular phones and laptops. They are extremely vigilant when discussing sensitive topics in hotels or areas potentially under surveillance because Israeli intelligence agencies are known for aggressive information-gathering tactics. However, the sudden elevation of the threat level is not the result of a single major incident but derived from multiple events and reassessments. This dispute arises in the context of growing differences between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Iran. Following the April ceasefire, Trump has been pushing for a major agreement with Iran, whereas Netanyahu, accusing Iran of non-compliance, is concerned about ongoing attacks. Similarly, differences have been reported between the US and Israel regarding military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Reports indicate a heated phone exchange between Trump and Netanyahu. Recently, Trump admitted to using offensive language towards the Israeli prime minister, underscoring serious disagreements over West Asian strategy. Trump disclosed this on June 3 during a New York Post podcast.
Though the US and Israel share a close alliance, a history of mistrust and espionage at the intelligence level exists. US security agencies have repeatedly exercised caution regarding Israeli spying activities, leading to major bilateral disputes. A prominent case was the 1985 Jonathan Pollard incident. Pollard, who worked in US Naval Intelligence, was accused of providing classified US documents to Israel. While he claimed to assist Israel, the US regarded it as espionage. When he sought refuge at the Israeli embassy during the investigation, he was arrested. In 1987, a US court sentenced him to life imprisonment. The episode strained US-Israel relations significantly. After nearly 30 years in prison, he was released on parole in 2015 and moved to Israel in 2020, where he was welcomed as a national hero. This case remains one of the most significant espionage incidents involving a foreign ally in the US. Another instance was the 2008 Ben-Ami Kadish case. Kadish, a former US Army mechanical engineer, was accused of passing sensitive US documents, including missile defense systems, fighter jets, and nuclear weapons information, to Israel during the 1980s. He was given a penalty of fines and surveillance rather than imprisonment. Additionally, in the 2019 “Stingray” espionage controversy, US media reported discovering fake cellphone tower devices in the Washington area designed to collect data from nearby mobile phones. Investigators suspected Israel as the source, estimating the devices were used to monitor President Trump and his close associates. However, the US government has not publicly accused Israel, and Israel maintains it does not engage in spying. (With agency contributions)
