Some former Members of Knesset were KGB agents, Yediot Achronot is reporting after obtaining documents from the ‘Mitrokhin Archive’. According to the report, the agents were successful in infiltrating the Knesset and other sensitive positions including the IDF General Staff. One name reported is Eliezer Granot, who was a member of the former Mapam party.

Another KGB agent infiltrated the defense establishment, a member of the team involved in the development of Israel’s Lavi fighter plane and yet another was involved in the development of the Merkava tank. Yediot adds that an agent code-named ‘Mekinka’ was operating in the Shin Bet and perhaps the most startling revelation is that in 1993, British authorities in possession of the Mitrokhin papers informed Israel a member of the General Staff was a KGB agent.

Preferring not to have the name of the major-general publicized and to avoid a most embarrassing situation, criminal charges were not filed against the high-ranking officer/spy.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)