Native (Israeli organization)
Native ( Hebrew נתיב Path ), formerly called Bilu , was originally an Israeli secret service organization that dealt with contacts and emigration of Jews from the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries . Today she looks after Jews in Eastern Europe and the successor states of the Soviet Union and provides them with information on Israel . The service reports directly to the Prime Minister . It was founded in March 1951 after the dissolution of Mossad le Alija Bet , who smuggled Jews into the British Mandate Palestine before the establishment of the State of Israel . Your first code name was Liaison Office ( lishkat Ha'Kesher ) and first director Shaul Avigur . The headquarters were in Tel Aviv , with around 500 employees at times.
They also provided the Jews in Eastern Europe with information, material on practicing religion and teaching Hebrew. In addition to their activity for the emigration and care of Jews in Eastern Europe, they also became an integral part of the Israeli secret service apparatus in Eastern Europe and carried out secret service operations there. In 1961 they founded a subunit bar, which also received support from the USA (including the CIA ) and put international public pressure on the Soviet Union to enable so-called refuseniks to emigrate to Israel.
Nativ had representatives at Israeli embassies around the world and, in return for their support, also provided the USA with information from the Eastern Bloc. That happened independently of the Mossad . Before the Six Day War , as a result of which Israel's diplomatic representation in the Eastern Bloc was restricted, Nativ also had representatives at the Israeli embassies in the Eastern Bloc.
They organized the emigration of Jews from Romania by bribing high officials including President Ceaucescu .
After the end of the Soviet Union and the Communist Eastern Bloc, they continued their activities to a lesser extent, for example with the evacuation of Jews in Sukhumi, Georgia, in September 1992, when it was attacked by Muslim rebels. In the same month there was an evacuation under similar circumstances from Dushanbe , Tajikistan . The service was then gradually phased out.
In 2000 the research and intelligence department was attached to the Mossad. The main task now was to look after Jewish and Israeli cultural centers in the former Eastern Bloc countries and to liaise with Jews living in these countries, who are also provided with information about Israel.
The 2019 director is Neta Briskin-Peleg.
literature
- Article Nativ, in: Kahama, Historical Dictionary of Israeli Intelligence, Scarecrow Press 2006