Israel Security Agency שירות הביטחון הכללי Sherut haBitaẖon haKlali, General Security Service جهاز الأمن العام |
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Common name | Shabak |
Abbreviation | English: ISA, Local: Shabak - Hebrew: שב״כ, Arabic: شاباك |
Emblem of the Shabak
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Motto |
מגן ולא יראה Magen veLo Yera'e The Defender that shall not be seen or The unseen shield |
Agency overview | |
Formed | February 8, 1949 |
Preceding agency | Shai |
Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
Jurisdictional structure | |
National agency | Israel |
Governing body | Prime Minister of Israel |
General nature |
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Operational structure | |
Agency executive | Nadav Argaman, Director |
Website | |
www.shabak.gov.il |
The Israel Security Agency (ISA, Hebrew: שירות הביטחון הכללי Šerut ha-Bitaẖon haKlali "General Security Service"; Arabic: جهاز الأمن العام), better known by the acronym Shabak (Hebrew: שב״כ, IPA: [ʃaˈbak], Arabic: شاباك) or the Shin Bet (a two-letter Hebrew abbreviation of the name), is Israel's internal security service (similar to the British MI5 or the American FBI). Its motto is "Magen veLo Yera'e" (Hebrew: מגן ולא יראה, lit. "Defender that shall not be seen" or "The unseen shield").
It is one of three principal organizations of the Israeli intelligence community, alongside Aman (military intelligence) and the Mossad (foreign intelligence service).
Shabak is believed to have three operational wings:
Although a security agency, it is not a part of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, and its chief answers directly to the Prime Minister of Israel.
Shabak's duties are safeguarding state security, exposing terrorist rings, interrogating terror suspects, providing intelligence for counter-terrorism operations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, counter-espionage, personal protection of senior public officials, securing important infrastructure and government buildings, and safeguarding Israeli airlines and overseas embassies.