Defense Min. shuts down Iran unit

Mossad chief Meir Dagan is displeased with the Ministry of Defense decision to shut down the unit dealing with Iran and headed by Uri Lubrani, a former ambassador to Iran.

The chief intelligence officer's anger stems from the decision being made at a time when there is growing belief that Iran is moving closer to the development of nuclear weapons.

Another aspect irking Dagan a great deal is that persons at the Ministry of Defense tried to insinuate that the request to close down the unit originated with Mossad.

"They tried to blame the closing on the Mossad," a source familiar with the matter told Haaretz, "and this angered Dagan very much."

The decision to dismantle the unit was probably made by Defense Ministry Director General Pinhas Buchris, for budgetary considerations. Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who had supported the existence of the radio station run by the small unit, authorized the decision.

A source in the Mossad said the organization is pleased with the unit's work because its operations complimented more clandestine intelligence work.

"This is strange because [during a time] when Israel and the Prime Minister are talking about the Iranian threat, the Defense Ministry decides to close down a group that follows what is happening in that country [Iran]," the source said.

Set up some 30 years ago, the unit is a small group, one of whose functions was the coordination of government and defense establishment activities in Lebanon, while in parallel following political developments in Iran.

In recent years, the unit's activity was significantly diminished and its budget was limited to NIS 5 million. It employed four persons, including Lubrani.

The main purpose of the unit was to maintain links with the Iranian community and political organizations, and follow the media in Iran. The unit also raised funds for a daily two-hour program in Farsi on Israel Radio.

Additionally, the unit ran a small radio station in the Galilee that broadcast into southern Lebanon. During the Second Lebanon War the station served the IDF by broadcasting messages to towns and villages, telling residents to leave their homes so they would not be hurt by shelling and air strikes.

Defense Ministry officials have made a number of attempts to shut the station down, but Lubrani, a veteran diplomat who served as Israel's ambassador to Iran, had connections in high places and prevented its closing.

Three years ago, then defense minister Amir Peretz assigned deputy defense minister Ephraim Sneh and his chief of staff, Brigadier General Michael Herzog, the task of evaluating the need for the unit. Sneh and Herzog concluded that the unit should continue its work and stressed its importance.

They also recommended that a steering committee be set up to oversee the content of materials being broadcast into Lebanon.

Two months ago Lubrani was informed that a decision had been made to shut the unit down.