Who Were the Mossad’s Arab Spies?

As described in Matti Friedman’s "Spies of No Country,” in the fight for a Jewish homeland, Israel’s first spies gathered essential intelligence, laying the groundwork for the Mossad.

Among them were Gamliel Cohen and Isaac Shoshan, who showed relentless bravery, infiltrating enemy lines and blending into the Arab world in daring efforts that were crucial for Israel’s survival.

Resources compiled by Doug Berkowitz

Big Ideas

1. The Arab Section was an Israeli undercover spy unit that gathered intelligence on Arab enemies.
2. Israeli spies put themselves in dangerous situations and sacrificed a chance at a normal life to help their country.
3. The actions of Israeli spies saved countless lives, yet the identities and actions of most will remain hidden from public knowledge.

Essential Questions

1. How far would you go to serve your country?
2. Should records of the actions of spies be made public? 
3. Is it ethical to spy on other countries?