Historical Dictionary of Israeli Intelligence

rector in 1989. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Middle East Studies

from Hebrew University and a master of public administration from

Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Public Policy. In the Israel

Defense Forces, Shavit served in the elite Sayeret Matkalunit. Af-

ter resigning from the Mossad directorship in 1996, Shavit has held a

variety of positions; the most recent is chairman of the board of the

International Policy Institute for Counterterrorismat the Inter-

disciplinary Center in Herzliya.

SHEBA OPERATION.See MOSES OPERATION.

SHEMER, DAN.SeeKASTNER, ISRAEL.

SHILOAH, REUVEN (1909–1959). Born Reuven Zaslanski in

Jerusalem to an orthodox Jewish family, he changed his name to

Reuven Zaslany when the British authorities sought him for his activi-

ties in the Haganah underground organization. After the establishment

of the State of Israel, he adopted his code name in the Haganah, Shiloah.

Prior to the establishment of the State of Israel, Shiloah, who spoke

Arabic, was involved from a young age in numerous covert actions,

frequently in Arab countries disguised as an Arab. In 1931, before

reaching his 22nd birthday, Shiloah was posted by the Jewish Agency

to Baghdad for secret missions. His cover job in Iraq was as a school-

teacher and part-time journalist. Under the latter cover, Shiloah took

many trips around Iraq. During his mission, he succeeded in setting

up a network of information services. In 1934 Shiloah returned to

Jerusalem and joined the Haganah and was assigned to set up its

intelligence services. Together with Shaul Avigur, he established the

Information Service. His next job was as liaison officer between the

Jewish Agency and the British authorities in Palestine.

During World War II, Shiloah recruited 26 Jewish paratroops for

British intelligence for missions behind the German lines in the

Balkans. He made the first contacts between the Jewish Agency and

the U.S. Office of Strategic Services, thereby laying the foundations

for relations between the Israeli intelligence community and Central

Intelligence Agency after the war. As an expert on Middle Eastern af-

fairs, Shiloah concentrated mainly on foreign political matters, for

example, efforts to form alliances with non-Arab Islamic states such

as Turkey and salvaging Jewish assets and transferring them to Israel.

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