Historical Dictionary of Israeli Intelligence

has frequently supported its spies by opening a “travel agency,” a pre-

ferred way to build cover stories). After spying in Israel for the Egyp-

tians for some considerable time and never being caught, Bitton asked

his Egyptian superiors for permission to retire. He settled in West Ger-

many, where he died peacefully. His career would probably never have

become known if in 1988 Egyptian television had not broadcast the

story of Bitton’s life. The first reaction to the film in Israel was that it

was an Egyptian fiction. Eventually Israel admitted that Bitton had

spied in Israel for Egypt, but insisted that he had done little damage to

Israeli interests.

BLACK SEPTEMBER ORGANIZATION. See MUNICH MAS-

SACRE; SPRING OF YOUTH OPERATION; TERRORISM;

WRATH OF GOD OPERATION.

BLANKET OPERATION.In 1970 intelligence began to trickle in to the

Israeli government from Syria on the privations suffered by the Jewish

communities in Aleppo and Damascus. There were reports of young

Jews making an effort to flee Syria despite the difficulties and the dan-

gers. Some of them set out from Syria secretly, with the help of smug-

glers, and tried to cross the border into Lebanon. A few were caught and

imprisoned by the Syrian authorities, then tortured and even shot.

The Israeli government, under the premiership of Golda Meir, re-

solved to embark on an operation to bring the Jews of Syria to Israel.

Known as the Blanket Operation, it began in 1970 and lasted several

years; it was in fact a series of individual operations. The Mossad

was charged with responsibility for its implementation. It was carried

out by combat troops of Shayetet 13 (Naval Commando) of the Is-

raeli Navy, acting under orders of the Mossad.

As part of the overall operation, dozens of incursions were made

by Mossad operatives and fighters of 13 Naval Commando into Syria

by many and varied means. Participants in the operation were re-

quired to possess flawless expertise. Tried and tested combat soldiers

were chosen for the operation. In addition to their military skills, they

were natives of foreign countries, so that they spoke foreign lan-

guages, mostly French, in the local dialect.

Fighters from the standing army and the reserves were called to un-

dertake dangerous missions of bringing the Jews of Syria to Israel

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