The claim that the Pentagon has raised its counterintelligence risk assessment regarding Israel to the highest level has sparked a new debate in Washington. According to TRT Haber's report based on Anadolu Agency, NBC News cited two current and one former US officials stating that the Defense Intelligence Agency has elevated the counterintelligence threat from Israeli sources to a "critical" level.
According to the report, this assessment was made due to concerns that Israeli intelligence was attempting to gather information on internal negotiations within the Trump administration, particularly on Iran and Lebanon issues. Since the assessment in question has not been published as a publicly available official document, the language of the report should be understood as an intelligence claim based on officials rather than a definitive conclusion.
Israel and White House Deny the Claims
The reports state that the Israeli Embassy in Washington rejected the allegations. The White House also took a stance opposing the claims that Israel was spying on the US. The Pentagon did not provide a direct comment on the report.
Therefore, the issue is being considered on two separate levels: first, the claim that the risk perception regarding Israel's intelligence gathering activities within the US intelligence bureaucracy has increased; second, Israel and the White House's rejection of these claims.
Article 224 in the 2027 Defense Bill Intensifies the Debate
Another aspect of the debate involves Article 224 in the draft 2027 National Defense Authorization Act by the US House Armed Services Committee. The draft includes provisions under the US-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative concerning joint research, development, testing, evaluation, and integration of defense technologies.
Supporters of this article argue that the regulation institutionalizes defense technology cooperation between the US and Israel. Critics focus on the need for more transparent discussions about technology integration and surveillance mechanisms, especially amid rising counterintelligence risk concerns.
Confirmed and Unconfirmed Points
What is certain is that a legislative proposal aimed at increasing technological cooperation with Israel within US defense policy is under discussion. Additionally, reports citing US media suggest serious concerns within Pentagon circles about Israel's intelligence gathering activities inside the US.
However, harsh claims that Israel has "taken over" the US administration or seized control of US military-intelligence systems are not verified information. Instead of such expressions, the reporting language should present the counterintelligence risk assessment claim, the lack of official comment, and the parties' denials together.
