Eye on the Enemy: ’’IDF’s’’ Scandal,’’Israeli’’ Soldiers Fear Abduction

One of the biggest leaking scandals case in the history of "IDF" has been closed with a sentence of 4.5 years in prison. What exactly has changed since then in the military computers?

Anat Kamm's case, which was closed Sunday, shook the information security system of the "IDF". After the soldier succeeded in stealing more than 2000 classified documents from the office of Central Command and passing them to a journalist, the "IDF" dramatically changed its information security measures.

Thus, the information security system is employing robust high-tech tools that prevent any bizarre attempts to read or log on into any of the documents, even before copying or moving them.

In addition to that, in order to sign into some computer networks or software, a fingerprint stamp is needed along with a password, as various information are saved in supervised "info stations". Connecting a USB into the computer is prohibited as well, and scanning a document is in control of information security.

Online restrictions are imposed on military computers too, where uploaded or downloaded information is monitored. Senior commanders are allowed to browse via the "IDF" address. A source from the information security system noted that "Some people fixed the damage caused by the leaks, yet it is impossible to completely prevent leakage."

Anat's case has been studied and analyzed, but the "IDF" is still healing the wounds of the biggest most embarrassing leak scandal in its history.

As stated, prior to her demobilization from the central commander's office Yair Naveh, Kam stole 2000 "IDF" classified documents and handed them over to "Haaretz" journalist Uri Blau. She was arrested at age of 23, as she used to reside in Tel Aviv and worked as a reporter for a news portal at the time Blau published a series of articles based on the material given.

"We have moved to another different level today, since Anat's case, nothing as huge occurred," a senior Information Security officer said. "Some short-term small incidents took place but the leaks did no damage. However, since she stored the documents on her home computer that was not secure and connected to the Internet without encryption, the info could have been also transferred to other, unknown actors," he added. According to the officer, the documents Kamm leaked contained operational plans, including preliminary commands for scenarios such as Operation Cast Lead.
 

"She breached the trust given to her by the army. She swore to be confidential not to steal confidential documents. The sentence should deter other soldiers from committing similar acts. However, we can never one hundred percent guarantee the prevention of leakage of materials from the army. It would sound too arrogant to say that ".

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Fortifying Educational Institutes against Palestinian Rocket Attacks
"Israel" Hayom - Ahikam Moshe David

Soon, a fortification project of educational institutes will be executed in the settlements located 7 to 15 kilometers far from Gaza strip, a project of Minister for Home Front Defense, Matan Vilnai. "Ma'ariv" newspaper revealed two days ago that "though the government's decision was taken since June to fortify educational institutes in the settlements located 7 to 15 kilometers far from Gaza strip, the project is postponed for the usual reasons, budgets and bureaucracy."
 

The statement published accusations exchanged between the Ministry of Home Front Defense and the Ministry of Finance. The former alleged that the implementation is delayed because the MoF didn't transfer the 50 million shekel funds. While the MoF claimed that it wasn't notified by the Ministry of Home Front Defense, since the latter handles the issue of funding after setting up the planning stage, as had been agreed at the Financial Committee last August.

Due to Ma'ariv's article that raised this issue, officials of both ministries met yesterday afternoon and came to an agreement that will put the project into effect.

It turned out that the Ministry of Finance didn't receive any notice from the Ministry of Home Front Defense about the completion of the planning stage, which resulted in not transferring the funds.

Yesterday evening, reports cited that the money will be soon transferred to the Ministry of Home Front Defense in order to kick off the bidding stage of the 80 million shekel project. The biding stage is expected to end in December 2011, so that the project will be closed after 10 months. Had things go as expected, educational institutions in the south will be fortified by next year.

"IDF" Soldiers Fear Abduction
Army Radio - Tal Lev

Almost a decade has passed since Operation Defensive Shield was launched to stop the wave of suicide bombings of the second intifada. 29 soldiers fought in Jenin, were killed in that operation, 13 of them were of the same brigade. Today, many of the brigade fighters became fathers of children who join reservists' trainings. The brigade they belong to had witnessed tough years - two brigade soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were kidnapped and three others were killed.

"The risks are clear", say the reservists, "but unfortunate incidents are increasing." Last night, after a hard night walking, reservists of the 5th brigade were prepared for the last challenge. As they held their breaths, the soldiers descended east towards the Jordan Valley, ready for their last challenge. Now that the goals were announced and leaders were watching, the troop headed to a fight in the Valley.

Of course, it was a maneuver; the fighters had finished the operational exercise in Ephraim, and for the first time, the central command planned the brigade a surprise. They decided to end the operational exercise with a restless brigade maneuver. But this brigade is exceptional- it will commemorate within few months the 10 year memorial of Jenin's war during which 13 soldiers of the support brigade died.

If I'm abducted - I will be swapped for one terrorist

"We fought from house to house, from alley to alley," recalls Jonathan Van Kasfl, 41 from Ashkelon and a member of the support brigade, "We could smell terrorists, and the moment one of us was wounded, an unending stream of troopships withdrew."

"Van Kasfl lived for 20 years in Israel after he left Holland, and nothing links him to the state other than the reserve service," he adds. Jonathan explains that Jenin's day cannot be forgotten, and he'll continue to carry the burdens of the victim's legacy. "Any person witnessed death in his own eyes, realizes that this is part of what's required from us," he says," If they abducted me, I expect the state to release one terrorist in exchange - I am sure."

This is not an insurance company - not all return alive

Lieutenant Nedav Haim, who serves as the brigade's surgeon, was a commander back then during Jenin's battle. In civil life he certainly leads another kind of struggle - the struggle of professionals. Haim says: "Reserve service for me is like the island of sanity of the "Israeli" society. He cited that he promised his troops they'll return home - but not necessarily alive.

He clarified: "this is not an insurance company, it's a warfare one."

Despite all the difficult events the brigade went through in Jenin and the kidnapping in the north, the brigade commander, Col. Oded , further emphasizes: "T
hese were not fake events, but the other way around - considering the ugliness , grief and bereavement these events brought the brigade to the top, pushing it to learn more and instilled its motivation."

Source: Hebrew newspapers, Translated and edited by moqawama.org