CIA Is Helping Palestinian Authority Wiretap People, Leaked Documents Claim

Image by Selim Aksam / iStock

By JTA February 6, 2018

(JTA) — A leaked document alleges that the Palestinian Authority has been wiretapping its residents with the backing of the CIA.

The document was shared on the messaging service WhatsApp by an anonymous employee of the Palestinian wiretapping agency last month, according to The Associated Press. It says the agency was set up jointly by three Palestinian security services and contains transcripts of recorded phone conversations.

The wiretapping allegedly targeted thousands of Palestinians, from the heads of militant groups to judges, lawyers and allies of P.A. President Mahmoud Abbas, according to AP.

Now two of the people allegedly wiretapped are suing the Palestinian Authority: Tawfiq Tirawi, the Palestinian West Bank intelligence chief from 1994 to 2008, and Jawad Obeidat, head of the Palestinian bar association.

“I made these phone calls and this is evidence that the leaked report is true,” said Obeidat, who has led anti-government protests in the past, according to AP. “This is a blatant violation of human rights.”

The wiretapping reportedly began in 2013 with help from the CIA. In exchange, the P.A. allegedly shared the intelligence with the U.S. spy agency. The report comes as Abbas feuds with President Donald Trump over Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The head of Palestinian security services called the report “nonsense,” according to AP.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO