The Spy in Gantz's House • Note to Two Shin Bet Managers: "Professional Mistake""

December 7, 2021   

The investigation committee appointed by Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar to investigate the employment of Omri Goren, suspected of spying at the Defense Minister's home, submitted its conclusions today (Tuesday). The vaccine for children aged 5-11 is recommended by doctors: a special response for parents In recent weeks, the Shin Bet has conducted numerous investigations that dealt with the specific failure as well as broader processes in the field of personal security. The committee included three retired Shin Bet senior officials – two former heads of departments and a former head of a brigade in the field of security and security adaptation. In the findings and conclusions of the external review committee, the failure was defined as a "professional error." Following this, the Shin Bet head determined that a command reprimand would be given to two managers in the Shin Bet's security department. Main findings that can be published: • Professional failures were discovered in the security assessment process for Omri Goren, due to professional gaps and gaps in the work processes. In addition, deficiencies were discovered in the control processes that were supposed to detect the error after the fact. • There is a gap in the work process that permanently synchronizes all the entities involved in the security of the minister and his entourage - the assessment unit and the security unit in the Shin Bet and those in charge of security on behalf of the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Defense. • As part of the immediate learning of lessons and under the direction of the head of the service, a comprehensive inspection was carried out of all the secured individuals. The inspection and assessment procedures for the circles close to the secured individuals were tightened. In addition, the interfaces and areas of responsibility between the Security Unit for Personalities and the Security Officers in the government ministries responsible for the individuals' homes were sharpened and refreshed. • The head of the Shin Bet determined that two managers in the organization's security division would be given a command note. Bar also instructed to add layers of intelligence and operational protection to the security envelope of the individuals protected by the service. In addition, work processes were changed and control elements were added to the security assessment process of professionals and others who are in the environment of the individuals. Alongside the failure to prevent Omri Goren from being employed at the minister's home, the head of the service praised the professional and rapid counterintelligence operation that made it possible to immediately locate and arrest the suspect within 48 hours of making contact with the hostile entity. Omri Goren, 37, who worked at Minister Gantz's home and was charged with serious espionage, is accused of locating the address of a representative of the Black Shadow hacker group - affiliated with Iran - using the Telegram app, contacting him under a false identity and presenting himself as someone who works for the minister of defense, and noting that he could assist the group in various ways. He added that for a sum of money he could transfer information from the house and even offered to be given a "computer worm" that he would plant on the minister's computer. Goren intended to ask the hacker group for only $7,000.