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http://www.angelfire.com/dc/1spy/Lavon.html Lavon Affair Israeli Espionage Operation (1954) Taking its name from Pinhas Lavon, Israeli Defense Minister, this abortive espionage operation involved Israeli agents who bungled a spectacular mission aimed at bringing the U.S. into confrontation with Egypt. The mission was reportedly designed and ordered by Pinhas Lavon (1904-1976). Lavon, born in Warsaw to a merchant family, attended Lvov University in the 1920s, then departed for Palestine, working for Israeli independence as a dedicated Zionist. Upon Israel's recognition as an independent state, Lavon was appointed Minister of Agriculture by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion in Israel's first cabinet (1948-1953), later becoming Minister of Defense. Lavon continued in that role when Moshe Sharett became Prime Minister in 1954. In that year, it appeared that the U.S. was beginning to favor Egypt over Israel. President Dwight D. Eisenhower seemed very friendly toward Egyptian strongman President Gamal Abdul Nasser. To counter this political situation, eleven Israeli agents living in Egypt, apparently under orders from Israeli military intelligence (headed by Colonel Benjamin Gibli) planned to blow up American buildings in Alexandria and Cairo, the blame for which would the be fixed upon Egyptian nationalists. This plot was designed to thoroughly rupture American-Egyptian relationships. It backfired when one the Israeli provocateurs-he is known only by his cover name of Paul Frank—proved to be a double agent working for Colonel Osman Nouri, the shrewd chief of Egyptian counterintelligence. Frank informed on the other agents, Except for their operational chief. Colonel Dar, who escaped, the spies were captured and placed on trial. Two were executed, one committed suicide and the rest were sent to prison. The responsibility for this fiasco was placed at the door of Pinhas Lavon, who immediately denied having ordered the mission. He insisted that the agents had been under the direction of Israeil military intelligence, the Mossad, and that he knew nothing of it. To protect his name, Lavon demanded an official inquiry. Sharett ordered a commission to investigate the matter but nothing could be determined. The investigation reported that Colonel Gibli testified he had received verbal orders to proceed with the mission and that Lavon had given him those verbal orders. Lavon denied ever giving any orders to Gibli. The Lavon Affair, as it was afterward called, left the Defense Minister in disrepute. He resigned in February 1955. His supporters openly accused Israeli Chief of Staff Moshe Dayan of conspiring against Lavon and that he was the real culprit in the bungled Egyptian mission. Another commission determined that Dayan was innocent of leading a conspiracy against Lavon. Still another commission was ordered to investigate the Lavon Affair in 1960 by David Ben-Gurion who had returned to power as Prime Minister. The commission, headed by Chief of Staff General Chaim Laskov, reported that Lavon had not issued the order and that it was most likely a directive from military intelligence, although the commission did not identify the person responsible. Ben-Gurion rejected the findings of the commission and refused to reinstate Lavon So divided was public sentiment that Ben-Gurion was forced to resign and reorganize his cabinet before resuming office in 1961. Pinhas Lavon gave up the attempt to vindicate himself and went into permanent retirement. The Lavon Affair remains today a subject of controversy. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om |
