Former Mossad Official Urges PM to Treat Information Warfare as Security Threat

A former senior official from Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, Shagiv Asulin, has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to officially recognize the "front of consciousness and influence" as a national security threat. Speaking on Channel 14, Asulin argued that while Israel has achieved victories on seven "physical fronts" since the October 7th attacks, it is still losing the battle for public perception and global narrative.

Asulin believes that the lack of a defined strategy and dedicated national body to combat disinformation and delegitimization campaigns against Israel is the core issue. He stated that this "eighth front" is not being fought effectively due to a lack of official definition, budget, and accountability, with responsibility currently scattered across various government ministries and volunteer organizations.

He proposed establishing a national organization, reporting directly to the Prime Minister's office, to manage this critical area. This body, he suggested, should have a commander, staff, and the authority to coordinate efforts and be held responsible for outcomes. Asulin emphasized the need for an intelligence-driven operational approach to identify and counter the funding and activation of influence operations targeting Israel.

Asulin, who left the Mossad to prioritize this issue, warned that global incitement, delegitimization campaigns, and international rulings are merely the "tip of the iceberg" of a larger, undeclared threat. He expressed confidence in Netanyahu's ability to win this "eighth front," just as he believes Israel has succeeded on the other seven, but stressed that a clear mechanism and commitment are needed beyond mere declarations.