Documents
NSA Intelligence Relationship with Israel
Aug. 3, 2014
TUP SECRETHSIHNDFURN
Naticnal Security Agencyi'Central 19 April 2013
Security Service
Paper
(TSHREL TD USA, Subject: NSA Intelligence Relaticnship with Israel
(U)
(TSHN F) NSA maintains a far-reaching technical and analytic relaticnship with the
Israeli SIGINT Naticnal Unit (ISNU) sharing an access, intercept, targeting,
language, analysis and repcrting. This SIGINT relalicnship has increasingly been the
catalyst far a brcader intelligence relaticnship between the United States and Israel.
Signi?cant changes in the way NSA and ISNU haye traditicnally apprcached SIGINT
haye an expansicn tc include cther Israeli and .S. intelligence crganiz aticns
such as CIA, Mcssad, and Special Dperalfcn Diyisicn (SUD).
(U) Key Issues
(TSHSIHN F) The single largest exchange between NSA and ISN is an targets in the
Middle East which strategic threats tc US. and Israeli interests. Building
upcn a rcbust analytic exchange, NSA and ISNU alsc haye and executed
unique tc gain access tc high pricrity targets. The mutually agreed upcn
gecgraphic targets include the ccuntries cf Africa, the Middle East, the Persian
Gulf, Scuth Asia, and the Islamic republics cf the farmer Scyiet Unicn. Within that set cf
ccuntries, ccyers the explcitaticn cf internal gcyernmental, military, ciyil,
and diplcmatic ccmmunicaticns; and external securityfintelligence crganiz aticns.
Regicnal Weapcns cf Mass Destruciicn F'rcliferaticn and "Stateless'TIntematicnal
Terrcrism the exchanged transnaticnal target set. A dedicated
ccmmunicaticns line between NSA and ISN the exchange cf raw material, as
well as daily analytic and technical NSA and ISNU haye liaiscn
cfficers, ccnduct fcreign relaticns functicns, staticned at their respectiye
embassies.
(TSHREL TD USA, What NSA Prcyides tc ISNU
(TSHSIHREL TD USA, ISR) The Israeli side the benefits cf expanded gecgraphic
access tc NSA and SIGINT engineering expertise, and alsc
gains access tc adyanced .S. and equipment yia
buys and fcreign military sales.
(TSHREL TD USA, What ISNU Prcyides tc NSA
(TSHSIHREL TD USA, ISR) Benefits tn the US. include expanded gecgraphic access tc
high pricrity SIGINT targets, access tc Israeli and SIGINT
engineering expertise, and access tc a large cf highly qualified
Delfyed Frcm: 1-52
Dated:
Declassify Dn:
TDP
TUP SECRETHSIHNDFURN
Naticnal Security Agencyi'Central 19 April 2013
Security Service
Paper
(TSHREL TD USA, Subject: NSA Intelligence Relaticnship with Israel
(U)
(TSHN F) NSA maintains a far-reaching technical and analytic relaticnship with the
Israeli SIGINT Naticnal Unit (ISNU) sharing an access, intercept, targeting,
language, analysis and repcrting. This SIGINT relalicnship has increasingly been the
catalyst far a brcader intelligence relaticnship between the United States and Israel.
Signi?cant changes in the way NSA and ISNU haye traditicnally apprcached SIGINT
haye an expansicn tc include cther Israeli and .S. intelligence crganiz aticns
such as CIA, Mcssad, and Special Dperalfcn Diyisicn (SUD).
(U) Key Issues
(TSHSIHN F) The single largest exchange between NSA and ISN is an targets in the
Middle East which strategic threats tc US. and Israeli interests. Building
upcn a rcbust analytic exchange, NSA and ISNU alsc haye and executed
unique tc gain access tc high pricrity targets. The mutually agreed upcn
gecgraphic targets include the ccuntries cf Africa, the Middle East, the Persian
Gulf, Scuth Asia, and the Islamic republics cf the farmer Scyiet Unicn. Within that set cf
ccuntries, ccyers the explcitaticn cf internal gcyernmental, military, ciyil,
and diplcmatic ccmmunicaticns; and external securityfintelligence crganiz aticns.
Regicnal Weapcns cf Mass Destruciicn F'rcliferaticn and "Stateless'TIntematicnal
Terrcrism the exchanged transnaticnal target set. A dedicated
ccmmunicaticns line between NSA and ISN the exchange cf raw material, as
well as daily analytic and technical NSA and ISNU haye liaiscn
cfficers, ccnduct fcreign relaticns functicns, staticned at their respectiye
embassies.
(TSHREL TD USA, What NSA Prcyides tc ISNU
(TSHSIHREL TD USA, ISR) The Israeli side the benefits cf expanded gecgraphic
access tc NSA and SIGINT engineering expertise, and alsc
gains access tc adyanced .S. and equipment yia
buys and fcreign military sales.
(TSHREL TD USA, What ISNU Prcyides tc NSA
(TSHSIHREL TD USA, ISR) Benefits tn the US. include expanded gecgraphic access tc
high pricrity SIGINT targets, access tc Israeli and SIGINT
engineering expertise, and access tc a large cf highly qualified
Delfyed Frcm: 1-52
Dated:
Declassify Dn:
TDP
TDP SECRETHSIHN
(U) Success Steries
(TSHSIHREL TD USA, ISR) A key prierity fer ISN is the Iranian nuclear deyelepment
pregram, fellewed by Syrian nuclear efferts, Lebanese Hizballah plans and intentiens,
Palestinian terrerism, and Dlebal Jihad. Several recent and successful jeint eperatiens
between NSA and ISNU haye breadened beth erganizatiens' ability te target and expleit
Iranian nuclear efferts. In additien, a rebust and dynamic relatienship has
enabled breakthreughs en high prierity Iranian targets.
(TSHREL TD USA, ISR) USA and ISNU centinue te initiate jeint targeting ef Syrian and
Iranian leadership and nuclear deyelepment pregrams with CIA, ISNU, SDD and
Ierssad. This exchange has been particularly impertant as unrest in Syria centinues,
and beth sides werk tegether te identify threats te regienal stability. cyber
partnerships expanded beyend ISNU te include Israeli Defense Intelligence's SDD and
Messad, resulting in unprecedented access and cellectien breakthreughs that all sides
acknewledge weuld net have been pessible te achieye witheut the ethers.
(TSHSIHN F) In July 2D12, the foice ef the Directer ef Natienal Intelligence (DDN I)
preyided guidance fer expanded sharing with the GDI (Deyernm ent ef Israel) en Egypt.
This appreyal has allewed NSA te task fer ISN en select strategic issues, specifically
terrerist elements in the Sinai.
(SHIN F) Seyend the traditienal SIDINT relatienship, NSA and ISNU signed a MDU in
September 2U11 preyiding fer Inferm atien Assurancet'Cem puter Netwerk Defense
cellaberatfen. Inferm atien Assurance Deputy Directer attended an IAIDND
cenference in Tel in January 2012 during which NSA and ISN established
ebjectiyes fer the relatienship. NSA intends te fecus the cellaberatien en cyber threats
frem Iran, Hizballah and ether regienal acters and may preyide limited, fecused suppert
en specific Russian and Chinese cyber threats. Denferences te further deyelep this
partnership were held in May 2D12 and December 2U12.
TD USA, ISR) USA and ISNU led their cemmunities in the establishment
ef U.S. - Israeli Intelligence Demmunity VTD cennectiyity that allews beth sides te
breaden and accelerate the pace ef cellaberatien against targets? use ef adyanced
telecemmunicatiens. Target sets include, but are net limited te Iran Nuclear, Syrian
Fereign Fighter meyements, Lebanese Hizballah and Iranian Reyelutienary Guard
Derps actiyities. Dialegue is engeing, with each petentfal new intelligence er technelegy
initiatiye censidered fer appreyal indiyidually.
(U) Preblemsthallenges
(TSHN F) The three mest cemmen cencerns raised by ISNU regarding the partnership
with NSA is NSA's reluctance te share en technelegy that is net directly related te a
specific target, ISM U?s perceiyed reductien in the am eunt and degree ef ceeperatien in
certain areas, and the length ef time NSA takes te decide en ISN prepesals. Efferts in
these three areas haye been addressed with the partner and NSA centinues te werk te
TDP 2
TDP SECRETHSIHN
(U) Success Steries
(TSHSIHREL TD USA, ISR) A key prierity fer ISN is the Iranian nuclear deyelepment
pregram, fellewed by Syrian nuclear efferts, Lebanese Hizballah plans and intentiens,
Palestinian terrerism, and Dlebal Jihad. Several recent and successful jeint eperatiens
between NSA and ISNU haye breadened beth erganizatiens' ability te target and expleit
Iranian nuclear efferts. In additien, a rebust and dynamic relatienship has
enabled breakthreughs en high prierity Iranian targets.
(TSHREL TD USA, ISR) USA and ISNU centinue te initiate jeint targeting ef Syrian and
Iranian leadership and nuclear deyelepment pregrams with CIA, ISNU, SDD and
Ierssad. This exchange has been particularly impertant as unrest in Syria centinues,
and beth sides werk tegether te identify threats te regienal stability. cyber
partnerships expanded beyend ISNU te include Israeli Defense Intelligence's SDD and
Messad, resulting in unprecedented access and cellectien breakthreughs that all sides
acknewledge weuld net have been pessible te achieye witheut the ethers.
(TSHSIHN F) In July 2D12, the foice ef the Directer ef Natienal Intelligence (DDN I)
preyided guidance fer expanded sharing with the GDI (Deyernm ent ef Israel) en Egypt.
This appreyal has allewed NSA te task fer ISN en select strategic issues, specifically
terrerist elements in the Sinai.
(SHIN F) Seyend the traditienal SIDINT relatienship, NSA and ISNU signed a MDU in
September 2U11 preyiding fer Inferm atien Assurancet'Cem puter Netwerk Defense
cellaberatfen. Inferm atien Assurance Deputy Directer attended an IAIDND
cenference in Tel in January 2012 during which NSA and ISN established
ebjectiyes fer the relatienship. NSA intends te fecus the cellaberatien en cyber threats
frem Iran, Hizballah and ether regienal acters and may preyide limited, fecused suppert
en specific Russian and Chinese cyber threats. Denferences te further deyelep this
partnership were held in May 2D12 and December 2U12.
TD USA, ISR) USA and ISNU led their cemmunities in the establishment
ef U.S. - Israeli Intelligence Demmunity VTD cennectiyity that allews beth sides te
breaden and accelerate the pace ef cellaberatien against targets? use ef adyanced
telecemmunicatiens. Target sets include, but are net limited te Iran Nuclear, Syrian
Fereign Fighter meyements, Lebanese Hizballah and Iranian Reyelutienary Guard
Derps actiyities. Dialegue is engeing, with each petentfal new intelligence er technelegy
initiatiye censidered fer appreyal indiyidually.
(U) Preblemsthallenges
(TSHN F) The three mest cemmen cencerns raised by ISNU regarding the partnership
with NSA is NSA's reluctance te share en technelegy that is net directly related te a
specific target, ISM U?s perceiyed reductien in the am eunt and degree ef ceeperatien in
certain areas, and the length ef time NSA takes te decide en ISN prepesals. Efferts in
these three areas haye been addressed with the partner and NSA centinues te werk te
TDP 2
TDP
increase with ISNU where appropriate and mindful cf U.S. pplicyr and
equity ccncerne.
cumum Updated by:
C?ur?l?try Desk Of?cer
Fereiin Affairs Directerete
TDP
TDP
increase with ISNU where appropriate and mindful cf U.S. pplicyr and
equity ccncerne.
cumum Updated by:
C?ur?l?try Desk Of?cer
Fereiin Affairs Directerete
TDP