Ties to Mossad

Is the Mossad really the deadly cloak and dagger organization we think it is?

An amusing incident related to the informality of Israeli dress is recalled by the former Mossad operative Victor Ostrovsky, who went on to spill the beans about the organization in two bestsellers (By Way of Deception, 1990 and The Other Side of Deception, 1994). In Mossad HQ in Tel Aviv, there is a photo studio where any operative who nees a photo for something such as a new passport, or accreditation at an Israeli embassy abroad, has his photo taken. Because few Israelis wear a tie to work, and any new “diplomat” posted abroad has to look smart in his accreditation pictures, two or three ties hang on the rack at the photo studio.

When Ostrovsky tipped off the British with a description of the ties hanging on the rack at Mossad HQ, they were able to scan through accreditation pictures of the staff at the Israeli embassy in London and pick out the Mossad operatives! At a later date, Ostrovsky was even able to supply the British secret service with a picture of a new tie that had been donated to the Mossad collection! It rather punches a hole in the popular mythical image of the organization.”

-Footprint: Israel