Everything you need to know about Mossad
A TOP secret prisoner who died in an Israeli jail has been revealed to be Australian Ben Zygier. What do we know about Mossad - the intelligence agency that recruited him?
A TOP secret prisoner who died in an Israeli jail in 2010 has been revealed to be an Australian.
Ben Zygier, 34, was referred to as Prisoner X and was one of Israel's most sensitive intelligence secrets.
The Australian committed suicide after spending four months in prison and was understood to have been recruited by the spy agency Mossad.
What do we know about Mossad? Here's a quick breakdown:
WHO
Essentially, Mossad is the CIA of Israel. Mossad is Israel's Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations and is charged with gathering information and performing covert operations for the State of Israel.
Translated from Hebrew, Mossad's motto is: "Where there is no guidance, a nation falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety."
The current director is Tamir Pardo. He joined Mossad in 1980 and rose through the ranks to the top job - a role he's occupied since January 1, 2011.
WHAT
Mossad's offical state responsibilities are: covert intelligence gathering beyond Israel's borders; preventing the development and procurement of non-conventional weapons by hostile countries; preventing terrorist acts against Israeli targets abroad; developing and maintaining special diplomatic and other covert relations; bringing Jews home from countries where official Aliya agencies are not allowed to operate; producing strategic, political and operational intelligence' and planning and carrying out special operations beyond Israel's borders.
The agency was established on December 13, 1949 and reports directly to the Prime Minister.
WHERE
Mossad's operations have been widespread, both domestically and abroad. The agency warned the FBI and CIA of a major terrorist threat in August 2001, which it believed would result in "a major assault on the United States".
Mossad has also conducted operations in Argentina (tracking down a Nazi leader), Uruguay, Belgium, Bosnia, Austria, France, Germany, Malta and the UK - among other European, African, Asian and Middle Eastern states.
Two alleged Mossad agents attempted to obtain New Zealand passports in 2004, resulting in the country imposing diplomatic sanctions on Israel.
HOW
Mossad is splintered into numerous departments charged with carrying out specific roles. The Political Action and Liaison Department, Research Department, Collections Department and Technology Department undertake the bulk of Mossad's general work.
More specialised units include the Special Operations Division - or Metsada - and the LAP (Lohamah Psichologit) Department, which looks after psychological warfare and propaganda.
Mossad has been linked with a number of high-profile operations such as capturing former Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann, destroying Syria's nuclear facility and taking out several of Iran's nuclear scientists.
WHEN
Ben Zygier was recruited by Mossad some time after he moved to Israel from Melbourne in 2010.
Ben Zygier was married to an Israeli woman and had two young children. He had reportedly spent a number of months in the Prisoner X cell before he was found hanged.
Exactly what he did to end up in prison remains unclear.
It said that Zygier's imprisonment was so secret that not even his guards knew his name.
However, word got out at the time of a mysterious prisoner and human rights groups wrote to the state to demand more information.
- with the News Limited Network