Declassified FBI Files Reveal 1950s Surveillance of Israeli Diplomats
Newly declassified FBI files from the 1950s reveal extensive surveillance of Israeli diplomats, American Zionists, and public figures under Director J. Edgar Hoover, detailing investigations into early state intelligence, arms procurement, and political maneuvers.
Newly declassified FBI files from the 1950s shed light on extensive surveillance operations targeting Israeli diplomats, American Zionists, and public figures during Israel's early years. The documents, released under the Freedom of Information Act following a 12-year legal battle initiated by the research institute IRmep, trace the sprawling investigation designated under file number 65-58700 as ISINT, standing for Israeli Intelligence Service.
The Scope of Surveillance under J. Edgar Hoover
Run under the formidable direction of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, the investigation spanned dozens of individuals, including prominent Israeli emissaries, political figures, business leaders, and journalists. Among the dossiers compiled by federal agents were files on Reuven Dafni, then-Israeli consul in Los Angeles, who was trailed during a trip to San Francisco in October 1950. Investigators scrutinized his hotel records, flight bookings, and even checked for outgoing phone calls.
The files also captured future Israeli President Chaim Herzog, who arrived in New York aboard the RMS Queen Elizabeth in May 1950 to assume his role as Israel's military attaché in Washington. The FBI monitored his arrival, passport details, and destination. Other prominent figures targeted or cataloged in the investigation included Teddy Kollek, later the legendary mayor of Jerusalem, Eliezer Livneh, a member of the Knesset, and Gideon Rafael, who later served as Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Israel's UN ambassador.
Investigating Arms Procurement and State Secrets
Beyond diplomatic shadowing, the federal investigation probed deeper suspicions regarding potential leaks of classified American military reports. In July 1949, internal memorandums revealed growing concern within the bureau over classified defense documents finding their way into Zionist circles, which Hoover warned could constitute a violation of the Espionage Act. Investigators meticulously traced the distribution lists of Air Force intelligence reports across the State Department, the Army, and the Navy to pinpoint the source of alleged leaks.
Financial transactions and procurement networks also drew scrutiny. Nahum Bernstein, a lawyer for the Jewish Agency involved in acquiring transport aircraft for Israel, faced federal inquiries regarding discrepancies in his testimony concerning aviation pioneer Al Schwimmer. Investigators examined bank accounts at Chase Bank and Bank of America used to finance the procurement of aircraft amid US neutrality and export laws restricting military shipments to the Middle East.
Cultural Figures and Arab League Documents
The sweeping purview of the FBI's investigation extended far beyond state officials, encompassing business leaders such as Walter Haas, president of Levi Strauss, Hollywood producers, and scientists. The bureau even amassed 76 pages of internal documents originating from the Arab League's New York offices, which had been funneled through intermediaries, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and the State Department. However, internal FBI memos later revealed severe doubts regarding the authenticity and reliability of the intelligence provided by the ADL sources.
Decades before the United States officially relocated its embassy to Jerusalem in 2018 under President Donald Trump, FBI files from 1951 highlighted American anxieties over early political maneuvers concerning the city's status, noting that any de facto recognition resulting from a diplomatic relocation was viewed by Washington as a matter of critical strategic sensitivity.
