U.S. Report: These Are the American Officials Israel Allegedly Spied On

The New York Times reported Saturday evening that U.S. intelligence reports say Israel has intensified its efforts to spy on senior figures in the United States, including Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby, and his deputy Michael Dimino. The report also said that a Defense Intelligence Agency assessment was written after incidents in which U.S. security personnel stationed in Israel noticed software installed on their devices that was used to track them. Another report, according to the article, found that U.S. military intelligence offices determined the threat from Israeli espionage had been raised in recent weeks from "high" to "critical." The counterintelligence and security agency contributed to that report.

Earlier tonight, the American television network NBC reported that concern is growing in the United States over Israeli espionage attempts, against the backdrop of disagreements between the two countries over the war with Iran. According to the report, the Defense Department in Washington raised to the highest level the threat posed by Israel's increasing attempts to obtain intelligence in the United States. Pentagon officials believe Israel is making special efforts to monitor senior American officials in order to gather information about internal discussions within the Trump administration and the decision-making process regarding conflicts in the region.

The Israeli Embassy in Washington responded: "The allegation in the report is completely false. Israel does not collect intelligence on American officials, and certainly not on senior officials in the U.S. administration. Israel's intelligence-gathering efforts are directed at its enemies, not at its allies. Any other claim on this matter is based on false information or motivated by political considerations."

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