Knesset Online Security Lapse Exposes Secret Mossad Data

The Knesset Website committed a major security lapse several weeks ago by publicizing the names of high-level Mossad and Shin Bet officials whose identities are kept secret by law.

This week, the business daily Globes reported that of late similar incidents have occurred, involving the publication of memoranda from sensitive Knesset subcommittee meetings and the names of top intelligence figures.

According to Haaretz "Israeli" newspaper, the security breach comes after a similar error last year exposed information on some of "Israel's" most sensitive, "defense"-related technological systems.

Last year's oversight was quickly identified by War Ministry officials, who urgently contacted the Knesset to remove the sensitive information from the site. The incident was addressed slowly, however, and for a short while the memos remained accessible on the site. Defense officials expressed deep concern over the incident, stating that in the hands of enemy states, the leaked protocols could have seriously harmed national security.

Knesset representatives attributed the incident to insufficient awareness on the part of committee members to alert the protocols department on the need to censor certain information before posting it to the site.