Sylvia Rafael: The Life and Death of a Mossad Spy

289 Pages·2014·2.95 MB·English

by  Ram Oren

Sylvia Rafael
Foreign Military StudieS
History is replete with examples of notable military campaigns and ex-
ceptional military leaders and theorists. Military professionals and stu-
dents of the art and science of war cannot afford to ignore these sources
of knowledge or limit their studies to the history of the U.S. armed
forces. This series features original works, translations, and reprints of
classics outside the American canon that promote a deeper understand-
ing of international military theory and practice.
The Institute for Advanced Military Thinking (IAMT) was formed by
retired senior officers of the Israel Defense Forces to serve as a bridge
between the theories and policies of the academic world and the doc-
trine, training, and other preparations required for field operations.
The IAMT applies this approach across the full spectrum of future land
warfare by:
• initiating and supporting joint discussions regarding the 
historical lessons offered by land warfare in the Middle East;
• encouraging innovative thinking and open debate about current 
critical defense issues;
• supporting decision makers as they prepare for future 
challenges.
SerieS editorS: Roger Cirillo and Gideon Avidor

An AUSA Book
Sylvia
Rafael
The Life and Death
of a Mossad Spy
r o M K
aM ren and oti Fir
Translated and Annotated by
ronna engleSberg
Foreword by
Major general ShloMo gazit, idF (ret.)
Due to variations in the technical specifications of different electronic
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Copyright © 2014 by Ram Oren and Moti Kfir. Reprinted by special
arrangement with Ram Oren and Moti Kfir.
Published by The University Press of Kentucky
Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth,
serving Bellarmine University, Berea College, Centre College of Kentucky,
Eastern Kentucky University, The Filson Historical Society, Georgetown
College, Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State University, Morehead
State University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University,
Transylvania University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville,
and Western Kentucky University.
All rights reserved.
It is forbidden to copy, duplicate, film, record, translate, store in a database,
or distribute this book or excerpts from it in any form and by any means,
electronic, optical, or mechanical (especially photography or recording)
without the written permission of the publishers.
Editorial and Sales Offices: The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40508-4008
www.kentuckypress.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Oren, Ram, author.
[Silviyah. English]
Sylvia Rafael : the life and death of a Mossad spy / Ram Oren and Moti Kfir ;
foreword by Major General Shlomo Gazit, IDF (Ret.).
pages ; cm. — (Foreign military studies)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8131-4695-9 (hardcover : alk. paper) —
ISBN 978-0-8131-4696-6 (pdf) — ISBN 978-0-8131-4697-3 (epub)
1. Rafael, Sylvia, 1937-2005. 2. Spies—Israel—Biography. 3. Assassins—
Israel—Biography. 4. Israel. Mosad le-modi’in ve-tafkidim meyuhadim—
Biography. 5. Salameh, Ali Hassan, -1979—Assassination. I. Kfir, Moti,
author. II. Title.
UB271.I82R34713 2014
327.1256940092--dc23
[B] 2014019782
This book is printed on acid-free paper meeting
the requirements of the American National Standard
for Permanence in Paper for Printed Library Materials.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
Member of the Association of
American University Presses
Contents
Authors’ Note vii
Foreword  by Major General Shlomo Gazit, IDF (Ret.)
ix
Acknowledgments xi
1. A Murder Plot 1
2. An Unexpected Visitor 7
3. Night in an Arab Village 35
4. Arrest and Investigation 63
5. Imprisoned in a Refugee Camp 109
6. A Man in Women’s Clothing 173
7. A Love Story 197
A Personal Afterword by Moti Kfir 249
Notes 253
Index 261
Illustrations follow page 108

Authors’ Note
The story of the Mossad clandestine combatant Sylvia Rafael is
based on extensive research, in the course of which countless in-
terviews were conducted and documents gathered regarding her
life and work. Due to security restrictions, some of the protagonists’
names have been changed, as well as details pertaining to some of
the Mossad’s operations. In some cases the authors allowed them-
selves to exercise their literary imagination in order to conceal de-
tails that could not be made public.
vii

Foreword
Among members of the intelligence community there is a saying:
Intelligence is the second oldest profession in the world; the only
difference between that and the oldest is that the intelligence profes-
sion has lesser morals.
The dramatic story of Sylvia Rafael, a Jewish Zionist and clan-
destine combatant of the Special Operations Unit of the Mossad,
casts doubt on this adage. On the one hand, it illustrates intelligence
operatives’ belief that any subterfuge, no matter how questionable,
is legitimate in order to achieve their aims. On the other hand, it
shows how those operatives must maintain strict self-control and
absolute loyalty—both to Israel’s struggle with an Arab-Palestinian
enemy (who will stop at nothing) and to a careful preservation of
moral values—as well as a constant effort to avoid harming inno-
cent bystanders, almost at any price.
The authors of this book chose to tell the story of Sylvia Rafael
and the intransigent struggle against members of the PLO’s Black
September division in order to detail the long, careful process of
sorting and selecting candidates for recruitment and the difficult
tests and comprehensive, prolonged training that these combat-
ants must undergo before they can be entrusted with operational
missions.
The Lillehammer incident and the unintentional elimination
of Ahmad Bushiki, an innocent Norwegian youth of Moroccan ex-
traction, is in many ways the antithesis of a carefully considered,
cautious operational policy. Unfortunately, sometimes the urgency
of the need to take action overrides both restraint and the option
of waiting until a better opportunity presents itself—and the deci-
sion is made to proceed with an operation in less than ideal circum-
stances. Sadly, that is what happened at Lillehammer; many such
unfortunate incidents may be found not only in the annals of the
Israeli secret service, but in those of every intelligence organization.
Sylvia Rafael was highly motivated and had absolute faith in her
superiors. The Lillehammer blunder deeply disappointed her. The
victim had been mistakenly identified, and the desire to act gener-
ated an unsuccessful plan of operation that resulted in the team’s
being arrested and imprisoned.
ix