Premier Levi Eshkol’s surprise appointment of Isser Harel, former Israeli intelligence chief, as his general adviser, evoked a political storm in Israel today.
The appointment of Harel, who led Israel’s search for Nazi killer Adolf Eichmann, and who was ousted two years ago as chief of Israel’s secret security services in a dispute with then Premier David Ben-Gurion, brought him into the public eye for the first time. Publication of his name as security chief had been officially forbidden.
In the debate over handling the problem of West German scientists working on advanced weapons systems for Egypt, Mr. Ben-Gurion had favored minimal protests to avoid embarrassing the West German regime, with which he was then negotiating for arms for Israel; Mr. Harel favored vigorous measures, including a press campaign. Mr. Harel was forced out after an Israeli government employee was arrested in Switzerland on charges of threatening the daughter of one of the West German scientists.
The opposition parties, including Mr. Ben-Gurion’s independent Israel Workers List, charged that the appointment amounted to dragging Israel’s intelligence affairs into party politics. Mr. Harel, as the Premier’s general adviser, will oversee both military and non-military intelligence. It was reported that, after the election, if Premier Eshkol wins, he will be named director-general of the Premier’s office.
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