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The Israeli Security Agency The Israeli Security Agency (ISA) is a national institution that was founded on February 18, 1949. One month after the establishment of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in the midst of the ongoing War of Independence, the Haganah Information Service (Shai) was dismantled on June 30, 1948 and the State of Israel’s intelligence services were formed. These intelligence services included: the Intelligence Service for military intelligence; Field Security and Counter Intelligence, which over time became the Military Intelligence Directorate; the Foreign Ministry political department, which handled intelligence activities abroad and eventually became the Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations (Mossad); Internal Intelligence, a service that handled homeland security, with emphasis on thwarting political subversion toward terrorism and later became the Israeli Security Agency. In its early years, the ISA was tasked with foiling espionage attempts by foreign powers and political subversion, and in charge of security for institutions, vital installations and Israeli delegations overseas. The organization was spread throughout Israel, with a few hundred employees in various different positions, from field coordinators, investigators and operators to listeners, desk operatives, technologists and managers, security officers and bodyguards. Part of the ISA’s role is to ensure the country’s security, safeguard its democratic order and institutions from terrorist threats, espionage, subversion, destruction and the disclosure of state secrets. The organization works to further vital national interests that are responsible for Israel’s national security. The values of stately leadership, integrity, comradery and daring, restraint of power, skepticism and secrecy are the cornerstones that guide the ISA organization at all times To all philatelic items issued on February 2024
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