Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., June 25, 2008 Sivan 22, 5768 | | Israel Time: 16:21 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 12:39 24/06/2008 Despite recent case, Israelis never excelled as mercenaries By Yossi Melman Tags: mossad, Israel, Yair Klein  From his jail cell in Russia, Israeli soldier of fortune Yair Klein is still fighting the Moscow court's decision to extradite him to Colombia, where he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for training militias for drug barons. Klein, formerly a battalion commander in the Haruv commando unit, is an exception in the Israeli defense and weapons export industry. He worked independently and aggressively, whereas most Israelis in the business operated under the official auspices and supervision of Israeli authorities. As far as is known, Israel has not exported independent mercenaries who were involved in direct attempts to arrange coups d'etat, unlike what has been done by British, French, Belgian, Portuguese, South African and most recently Russian mercenaries since the 1960s. Advertisement Instead, the security services have taken the lead in the matter: In the 1950s and 1970s the Mossad overseas intelligence agency was involved in military, political and commercial operations in African nations. The Mossad cultivated dictators and generals and helped them survive with military aid and arms sales, as well as by providing advisers. The most well-known examples were its support of Idi Amin in Uganda and Mobuto Sese Seko in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). The role of the Mossad in such matters has ended over the past two decades, and responsibility for policy in such security matters has moved to the Defense Ministry. Under the title of "military exports and aid" the ministry allows former Mossad Shabak, Israel Defense Forces and Israel Police officers to sell their security expertise. This knowledge is often translated into weapons sales, training for VIP bodyguards, establishment of security services and sales of intelligence-gathering equipment to ruthless and corrupt dictators in Angola, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other African nations. Related articles: Colombia seeks Israelis accused of training death squads Chavez: Colombia has become the Israel of Latin America Israel Police provided information that led to arrest of ex-IDF officer in Moscow Bookmark to del.icio.us   Gilad's tale VIDEO: U.S. kids read abducted soldier's story of co-existence. Leaving Torah behind Study finds religion is not very important to American Jews.   1.   Death Merchants 06:04  |  Guy From NYC 24/06/08   2.   Yossi so left, he`s going in circles 09:19  |  FOX 24/06/08   3.   #1 Death Merchants 09:55  |  Seymour 24/06/08   4.   otherway ???? 10:26  |  Manolo 24/06/08   5.   seymour 10:30  |  Guy From NYC 24/06/08   6.   a democracy never suport dictatorships 10:34  |  Manolo 24/06/08   7.   # 3 the single most important fact rendered, dear fox... 10:37  |  eric 24/06/08   8.   Israeli mercenaries are criminals rather than brave men! 12:29  |  Ricardo 24/06/08   9.   Military exports and aid? 13:22  |  Americans wake up! 24/06/08   10.   Colombia is where Israelis love to be Mercenaries! 14:02  |  Sharif Hafez 24/06/08   11.   Israeli , Presidential Security abound. 15:01  |  Stephen. 24/06/08   12.   Georgia?? 19:23  |  Hans Larsen 24/06/08   13.   Really? 19:38  |  Mark Lincoln 24/06/08   14.   You guys are CRAZY 19:52  |  Ronald 24/06/08   15.   Re: Ronald 01:10  |  Guy From NYC 25/06/08   16.   Israel supports all fascist dictatorships 01:11  |  Daniel 25/06/08   17.   We`re not great auto mechanics either 12:46  |  dyinglikeflies 25/06/08

Read & React Barak orders Gaza crossings sealed in response to Qassams Responses: 80 Rosner's Guest: Israel was wrong on Hezbollah war, wrong on Gaza restraint Responses: 19 Attempted coup splits Hamas military wing in two Responses: 46 Cabinet set to vote on Hezbollah deal, but PM stance uncertain Responses: 6 Yossi Melman: Israel's spymasters are bullying the families of abducted soldiers Responses: 8 Rosner's Domain Guest: Not going to war in Gaza - erroneous choice Religion is not very important to American Jews Al Hura not working? Tell me something I don't know (WTR) Poll: exchange deal with Hezbollah, good or bad? Why do non-Jewish Americans support Israel? More Headlines 16:20 Olmert: Top priority is to bring home seized troops 15:22 Top Saudi official: Ball in Israel's court if it wants peace with us 14:27 Jihad threatens to continue rocket attacks, despite truce 16:12 Barak and Olmert salvage coalition in late-night deal 14:24 'Attack on Paris Jewish teen may be linked to ongoing gang feud' 15:53 Ex-Likud MK Omri Sharon completes prison sentence 13:55 Ben Gurion Airport stages mass aviation disaster drill 15:18 IDF Chief: Don't halt process declare Hezbollah abductees as fallen 15:36 Egypt finds seven smuggling tunnels, arms cache near Gaza border 05:54 Who will defend ultra-Orthodox women's labor rights? 08:42 Negotiator heading back to Cairo for indirect talks on Shalit 08:46 Attempted coup splits Hamas military wing in two Previous Editions Select Day 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun

Special Offers Advertisement Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Jerusalem of Gold Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved