US raises Israel counterintelligence threat to ‘critical’

New York, June 6 (EFE).- The US Department of Defense has reportedly raised its counterintelligence threat level concerning Israel from «high» to «critical,» the highest designation.

It comes amid concerns that Israeli intelligence agencies are conducting increasingly aggressive espionage activities targeting senior U.S. officials, The New York Times reported on Saturday.

According to internal Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) documents cited by The New York Times and NBC News, the heightened alert reflects growing concern over Israeli efforts to intercept internal deliberations within the administration of President Donald Trump.

The reports say the primary objective is to obtain firsthand information about Washington’s strategy in ongoing negotiations with Iran.

The development comes amid differences between the two allies over Iran policy. While Trump is pursuing a negotiated settlement with Tehran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has advocated further weakening Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities, increasing pressure on its ruling establishment, and targeting Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group based in Lebanon.

Among the officials reportedly targeted through wiretapping and phone-hacking operations are Steve Witkoff, the White House’s chief negotiator, and Elbridge A. Colby, the Pentagon’s top policy official.

The reports also allege that some of the intelligence gathering was facilitated by senior US officials using personal phones and private aircraft while conducting national security-related business.

The White House rejected the allegations, with administration spokespersons telling The New York Times that the report was «false.»

The Israeli Embassy in Washington also strongly denied the accusations, saying Israel «does not gather intelligence on US entities» and that its intelligence efforts are directed solely at adversaries rather than allies. EFE

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