AI
Jonathan Pollard sold classified U.S. intelligence to Israel during the Cold War, and many U.S. intelligence officials believe this information was subsequently passed to the Soviet Union.
The Allegation: Senior officials, including former CIA Director William Casey, suggested that Israel traded Pollard’s stolen data to Moscow in exchange for the emigration of Soviet Jews to Israel.
The Mechanism: Critics argue that Soviet moles within the Mossad (such as Shabtai Kalmanovich) funneled the intelligence to the KGB, or that Israel used the data as leverage to secure the release of Jewish prisoners or scientists.
The Impact: This transfer allegedly compromised U.S. intelligence assets in the Soviet Union, with some sources claiming it led to the capture or death of over 40 American spies.
Spy craft is a dangerous backstabbing game. There’s always bad apples. We’ve compromised ourselves and others too.