Shin Bet to establish Islamic studies program to address Oct. 7 intelligence failures
The initiative aims to address failures exposed by investigations into the October 7 massacre, including the failure to understand Hamas's terror ideology and religious extremism.
The Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) is set to launch a new Islamic studies program to address intelligence failures that contributed to the October 7 massacre. The program will be overseen by the agency's chief, David Zini, and will complement the existing Arabic language institute. Led by Zini, the new initiative will bring together experts in Islam to teach comprehensive lessons on the religion, tailored to the Shin Bet's operational needs.
The primary goal is to enhance understanding of Islam and its various interpretations among Shin Bet personnel working in various fields. The failure to grasp Islam was identified as a key reason behind the intelligence shortcomings surrounding the October 7 attack. Intelligence analysts had failed to comprehend Hamas's ideology, the radicalization of the organization following the release of Yahya Sinwar from prison, and the incorporation of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin's vision into Hamas's strategy.
Additionally, they underestimated the depth of Hamas's hatred and ideological extremism, which led to misjudgments regarding the severity of the attack. The intelligence community had previously relied heavily on technological intelligence gathering methods, which provided detailed information on targets but neglected the study of radical Islam.
As a result, specialized centers dedicated to understanding radical Islam had become less prominent, and the expertise of intelligence specialists in this area had deteriorated over time. Zini is also focusing on improving working conditions for Shin Bet personnel, recognizing that the agency's professional expertise has suffered due to deteriorating employment conditions over the past decade.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
