Israel Responsible for Hacking Millions of French Phones?

Stephen Lendman
Activist Post

Mossad’s credentials are notorious. They’re well known. It’s expertise is acknowledged. Its rap sheet is longstanding and nefarious.

Its tactics include targeted assassinations, satellite, drone and other type spying, hacking and espionage expertise, computer viruses, other cyber attacks, bombings, sabotage, and other lawless practices.

On October 25, France’s Le Monde headlined “The NSA’s intern inquiry about the Elysee hacking revealed.”

Edward Snowden connected important dots for millions. Documents he released included “a four-page internal NSA memo,” said Le Monde. It’s marked “top secret.” France sent it.

It said French secret service technical director Bernard Barbier and National Agency for IT systems security head Patrick Pailloux “are coming to ask their American counterparts, whom they suspect are (conducting Elysee Palace espionage) for an explanation.”

It’s the official French president’s residence. It includes his office. It’s where government ministers meet to discuss official business.

France “learn(ed) that none of the services capable of carrying out this type of electronic attack came from America, Britain or Canada.

Carefully chosen wording said the NSA “intentionally did not ask either the Mossad or the ISNU (Israeli technical administration services) whether they were involved.”

Penetrating Elysee began while Nicolas Sarkozy was president. Security systems were in place to detect electronic espionage.

The attack conducted wasn’t “part of an act of sabotage which was to be made public but of the desire to be permanently installed invisibly at the centre of the Presidency,” said Le Monde.

Initially, America was thought to be responsible. Tensions followed. In January 2012, NSA head General Keith Alexander was questioned about his possible role.

He denied responsibility. He offered to send two NSA NTOC (National Threat Operations Center) analysts to help identify the hacker.

“On the eve of their departure,” said Le Monde, “France cancelled their visit and hardened (its) tone.”

The top secret NSA document discusses its Office of Tailored Operations (TAO). Most agency employees and officials know little or nothing about it.

Extraordinary secrecy keeps its operations concealed. Only select NSA officials needing to know are fully apprised of its mission.

It involves targeting other nations. It seeks the most sensitive type information. Its tactics include sophisticated hacking. Its able to develop information needed to destroy, damage, or otherwise compromise targeted sites.

The document France obtained said NSA, Britain, Canada and other close “second circle” allies weren’t involved in Elysee hacking.

It added that Israel’s Mossad has sophisticated technical expertise. Its involvement was suggested short of accusations. No investigation was conducted to learn for sure.

At the same time, reasonable suspicion exists. A top NSA official commented on Israel’s aggressive spying on America. The document France obtained explained, saying:

France is not the only country to target the department of Defense using electronic espionage.

Israel also does this. On one hand, the Israelis are excellent partners in terms of sharing information but on the other, they target us to find out our positions on the Middle East.

It is the third most aggressive intelligence service in the world against the United States.

“There is a chance that helping attribute the cyber attacks against the French Presidential network may reveal a US ally is responsible.” NSA had Israel in mind.

On October 25, London’s Daily Mail headlined “Was ISRAEL behind the hacking of millions of French phones and NOT the US?” Information Le Monde reported suggested so.

“In the latest extraordinary twist in the global eavesdropping scandal, Israeli agents are said to have intercepted more than 70 million calls and text messages a month.”

France initially blamed America. Perhaps it pointed fingers the wrong way.

US and French intelligence work closely with Mossad. At the same time, suspicions cloud relations. Israel spies aggressively on allies.

A government spokesman lied, saying:

Israel is a country which is a friend, ally and partner of France and does not carry out any hostile activity which could pose a threat to its security.

France complained earlier about Israel using its territory for so-called black operations.

A notable 2010 Dubai incident involved assassinating Hamas Qassam Brigades co-founder Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh. Killing him succeeded after two earlier failed tries.

Israel is a notorious rogue state. International laws and standards don’t matter. They’re consistently violated. Anything goes is policy. Allies can be as vulnerable as foes.

Has Israel been intercepting 70 million French phone calls and text messages monthly? Did it penetrate Elysee security? Does it target its other close allies the same way?

Snowden released documents show aggressive global NSA spying. Perhaps Israel operates the same way.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at [email protected]. His new book is titled How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening. http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/