37 Facts About Israel Beer

Israel Beer was an Austrian-born Israeli citizen convicted of espionage.

Israel Beer took pride in having later completed officer training in the Austrian military academy and having served as an officer in the army for a certain period of time.

Israel Beer claimed to have completed his service as a colonel serving as a brigade commander and to have fought in the Spanish Civil War as a volunteer for the International Brigades in the Thalmann Battalion.

Israel Beer claimed to hold a doctorate in literature from the University of Vienna.

Israel Beer neither revealed his true identity nor admitted that he worked for the KGB.

Israel Beer had obtained first-hand knowledge of both theoretical and historical military areas, which made him an expert in these issues and an acknowledged expert on military affairs, despite his lack of real field experience.

Israel Beer was proficient in the details of the battles, names of places, commanders, military units, which he used to gain credibility and additional military experience.

Israel Beer immigrated to Palestine in October 1938 and was accepted to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as a research student.

Israel Beer requested discharge from the IDF in 1949 because of his failure to be promoted to a new position in the Operations Division, in direct subordination to the Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.

Israel Beer bitterly claimed that he was not promoted because his credibility was in question because of his connection with Mapam, a democratic socialist party that rivaled the ruling, Labor Zionist Mapai.

Israel Beer was formally discharged after a leave of absence in July 1950.

Israel Beer was politically active in Mapam during his service in the IDF.

Israel Beer was involved in the project right up to his arrest.

In 1959, Israel Beer was appointed head of the Department of Military History in the University of Tel Aviv.

Israel Beer was considered among the ministry's senior administrative officials, as the civilian contract with the Israeli Ministry of Defense afforded him the rank of colonel.

Israel Beer used his new status in the Ministry of Defense to his advantage, to create the impression that he had a very close relationship with Ben-Gurion and that he was one of his confidantes and advisers.

Israel Beer presented himself as a close confidante of the Minister of Defense and so gained the trust of many of his colleagues and associates at the General Staff Base, who even considered him to be a close link to the minister and one who could promote their personal and professional interests.

From 1958, Israel Beer began to develop close connections in Europe, including Germany, France, the United Kingdom and other Western countries.

Israel Beer's meetings included the German Minister of Defence, Franz Josef Strauss, and the head of French intelligence.

Harel considered it suspicious when he discovered that Israel Beer had gone ahead with the meeting he had specifically prohibited.

Harel was not satisfied with the first conversation in 1955 in which Israel Beer was questioned about his past.

Israel Beer met with Sokolov and was later seen walking without the briefcase.

Israel Beer was interrogated that night and his apartment was searched.

Israel Beer was arrested on the morning of March 31,1961.

Israel Beer initially denied all accusations of contact with foreign diplomats but later, he admitted to having connections with Soviet intelligence as well as to his operator, Sokolov.

About a month later, Israel Beer was invited to Misha Eidelberg's apartment.

However, before Israel Beer had the chance to call, he met Lousiev "coincidentally", and they scheduled another meeting, which was held in September 1956.

Israel Beer informed the Minister of Defense's military secretary about the new acquaintance, and the secretary advised him to discuss the issue with the head of the ISA Amos Manor.

Israel Beer met Lousiev again and was introduced to Vasili Avdyenko, a senior member of the Soviet intelligence, stationed as head of the KGB branch in the Soviet embassy.

Israel Beer began meeting Sokolov in January 1958 and they gradually moved from semi-public meetings including intellectual exchange of ideas in pleasant surroundings, to conspiratorial meetings on military matters concerning Western countries and later, concerning Israel as well.

Israel Beer was subjected to a number of intelligence interrogations conducted in the Soviet intelligence facility, in the Russian Church in Abu-Kabir.

Israel Beer demanded and was given documents, which he photocopied.

Israel Beer demanded information on Israel's nuclear potential and implied that Beer would never be able to sever his connections with the Soviets.

Israel Beer even contemplated, he claimed, turning to Shin Bet, but he did not do so because of Harel's hostile approach towards him and the harsh words between them after his meeting with the German general.

Israel Beer was tried for espionage and sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.

Israel Beer appealed against his sentence to the Supreme Court of Israel.

Israel Beer died while he was still in prison in May 1966.