zone, on the other hand, the ISA was responsible for providing MI with
the preventive intelligence it gathered; since the Israeli withdrawal
from Lebanon, this function of the ISA is finished.
In 1988, due to the Palestinian uprising (the First Intifada), assess-
ing the overall Palestinian issue fell to the ISA, which set up a re-
search division for this purpose. By the terms of Magna Carta 2, the
ISA no longer collects intelligence unconnected with preventing ter-
rorism. Whenever general information is gathered concerning the PA
area that is not directly related to the prevention of terrorism, it is im-
mediately conveyed to MI. In addition, the ISA analyzes the infor-
mation for the sake of good order. This is in keeping with the call by
the 1974 Agranat Commissionfor more corroboration of intelli-
gence assessments.
Malka, who retired as director of MI on 31 December 2001,
evinced greater readiness than any of his predecessors to transfer sev-
eral types of intelligence collection, mainly through human intelli-
gence (HUMINT), to the other Israeli intelligence organizations or to
other IDF units. His goal was to allocate more resources to the MI’s
Research Division. Malka stated explicitly that he was ready to en-
tirely transfer Unit 504 to the ISA or the Mossad, both of which are
more experienced with such types of intelligence. By 2005 the trans-
fer had partly materialized. Tactical intelligence for frontline IDF
units has been transferred to the Land Arms Command. The External
Relations Wing, which was responsible for liaison with foreign mili-
tary attachés in Israel, was moved to the Operations Directorate.
What actually happened is that following the outbreak of the sec-
ond Palestinian uprising (the Al-Aqsa Intifada) in 2000, the ISA grew
substantially stronger. Its assessments on the PA are no less important
than those of MI, perhaps more important. In any event, there is a
sense that a new document is needed, a “Magna Carta 3,” that would
include the sphere of responsibility of the Center for Political Re-
searchof the Israeli Foreign Ministry.MAHANAIMI, GIDEON (1928–1986).The Israeli-born Mahanaimi
joined the Palmah militia in 1945. After the establishment of the State
of Israel in May 1948, he served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
as an intelligence officer in various positions. Mahanaimi established
the first school of agents in Unit 131of Military Intelligence(MI)174 • MAHANAIMI, GIDEON06-102 (03) H-P.qxd 3/24/06 7:25 AM Page 174