After Meir Amitbecame the director of the Mossad in 1963 the
functions of Unit 131 were moved from MI to the Mossad.UNIT 132.This was a sister unit of Unit 131in Military Intelligence.
Unit 132 was in charge of conducting psychological warfare in hos-
tile Arab countries beyond Israel’s borders. Before the Egyptian Rev-
olution of July 1952, the unit’s agents distributed antimonarchy prop-
aganda in Cairo. Eliyahu Nawiwas in charge of conducting this
propaganda, using the Voice of Israel broadcasting in Arabic.UNIT 154.The collection unit in Military Intelligencein the 1950s was
designated Unit 154.UNIT 504.This unit in Military Intelligence(MI) collects information
by means of human intelligence (HUMINT), that is, spies. Most of
its work is done by means of outside agents. The officers of Unit 504
are known as “officers for special tasks” (Hebrew acronym
katamim); they constitute a fairly small body and undergo two-track
training. The unit commander is an officer with the rank of colonel.
Unit 504’s unique tasks have aroused much criticism. On the one
hand, this is a small, seemingly elitist unit, which carries out sensi-
tive missions; but, on the other hand, it is treated as if it were the
stepchild of MI.
During the Israel Defense Forces’ 18-year presence in Lebanon,
members of Unit 504 were especially active across Israel’s northern
border. Naturally, Unit 504’s operational successes usually remain far
from the public eye. Still, several of its officers and other ranks have
been linked to dubious affairs. The unit’s extensive activity in
Lebanon was in Camp 1391; this became the gateway to Israel for
Lebanese nationals wanted by Israel, especially those suspected of
membership in Hizbullah. Some of them were captured in battle, and
others were abducted at Israel’s initiative; they were transferred via
Camp 1391 to the southern side of the border. The most famous of
the abductees are Sheikh Abd al Karim Obeid, who was seized in
1989, and Mustafa Dirani, who was taken by force to Israel in 1994.UNIT 515.See UNIT 8200.UNIT 848.See UNIT 8200.298 • UNIT 13206-102 (04) Q-Z.qxd 3/24/06 7:26 AM Page 298