Isser Harel was born in Belarus and immigrated to mandatory Palestine at the age of 18. He served the security and intelligence interests of the Yishuv and State for many years. He later became a businessman, served one term in the Knesset and was a prolific writer. His books describe and analyze intelligence and security operations in a democratic regime.
Milestones in his service include:
- 1944-47 – top posts in the Hagana’s information service, Shai.
- 1948-63 – head of Shin Bet.
- 1952-63 – head of the Mossad and supreme head of Shin Bet (with the unofficial title of 'Memuneh' – “The Boss”).
Prime Minister Ben-Gurion trusted Harel implicitly. Notwithstanding this, Harel resigned in 1963 because of irreconcilable differences with the Prime Minister.
Harel’s intelligence instincts were finely honed. He would lead important operations in person, the best known of which was the capture of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichman in Argentina to stand trial in Israel. During his period in office he shaped the Mossad, adapting it to current realities and new objectives. He transformed it from an organization serving a state in the making to an official State institution. His outstanding qualities were tenacity and absolute loyalty to the elected government.