Israeli spy chief's phone theft raises fears for secrets

By The Associated Press and Reuters

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JERUSALEM — A cellphone belonging to the chief of the Israeli Mossad spy agency was stolen last month, and the theft might compromise sensitive security information, police said yesterday.

Mossad chief Meir Dagan's phone has not been found, and no suspects have been arrested, said Israeli police spokesman Gil Kleiman.

The phone was taken from Dagan's car in Tel Aviv last month, police said. It was unclear if the theft was random or intended to obtain security information.

The cellphone may have contained telephone numbers, ranks and other information on top Israeli security officials and access to the army's Internet network, Israeli media reported.

To be extra safe, Mossad ordered the phone company to remotely erase the memory on Dagan's handset.

"There were quite a few numbers of agents and secret service heads stored there. We did not want embarrassing exposure for them too," one source said.

On Feb. 8, an Israeli TV station reported the theft of a sensitive item from a security official, but military censorship banned publication of further details until yesterday.

Dagan, a counterterrorism expert and former army general, was appointed to head the Mossad in 2002.

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