IDF | New Intelligence Base

D. Y. was an a state informant within the WIS, I described him in The Cross of Bethlehem. In several occasions, he commented about his work as a reservist soldier in a small unit at the Tel Hashomer Base. The unit coordinated between the IDF, the Mossad and the Shin Beth. They were so paranoid that in every room they had a table with the times American satellites would be able to see the base. At those times it was forbidden to take any papers to uncovered spaces; they waited within the rooms until the danger passed. Interestingly, Russian and Chinese satellites were not watched. Maybe something to do with soviet camaraderie; I never asked.

The point is that over the years, many IDF installations have become to well known and exposed. Ostrovsky described the Mossad Headquarters at the Glilot Junction. Next to it are the Military Intelligence School and a large base of the 8200 Sigint Unit. No secrets here. These and other bases – like the computing center (Mamram) in Ramat Gan – are not very safe and quite accessible. That’s why on June 8, 2010, the Israeli Administration – this time in the shape of the Southern District Committee for Planning and Building – approved the construction of several new intelligence bases in the Negev Desert. These are to be finished until 2017.

The changes are big. The Intelligence Corps would move to the Likit Area, east of Beer Sheva, and west of the Shoket Junction. The Military Intelligence School would be moved to the Negev Junction. Then, the technological intelligence units (that was the term used in the Hebrew media, it probably refers to the Sigint 8200 base at Glilot) would be relocated near the town of Omer. The last step would include the move of the computing unit (Mamram) next to the Negev University at Beer Sheva.

Overall the cost would be an amazing 25 billion ILS (roughly 6 billion dollar). It was published the new “Intelligence Town” – as it has been nicknamed – would include 300000 built square meters. The picture added here is a simulation that appeared in the Hebrew media. The low buildings and their shape hint we are looking at the residential area of the new base. Probably the base would be larger and would include a large underground facility. All the new IDF strategic bases include large underground facilities. The “Bor” (hole) below the Ministry of Defense is probably the most famous of these, but also “Wing 2” and the Northern Command are largely underground. The last is below 150 meters (roughly 500 feet) of solid rock.

The IDF blessed the committee’s decision and announced it would begin its implementation immediately. As described in the Defeating Israel series, Israel is too small for the IDF to maneuver within it. Now we are seeing how the IDF is moving deep into the desert to allow that much needed capability. Would that made a difference in case of war? Probably it would mean the entrance to the next exile in the Sinai Desert would be even faster and easier. Cheers, Ashkenazi!

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