Jerusalem, February 24, 1998

MOSSAD HEAD DANNY YATOM RESIGNS POST 
(Communicated by Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Mossad head Danny Yatom today (Tuesday), 24.2.98, met with Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu and informed him of his intention to resign his post.
The prime minister accepted Mr. Yatom's decision with regret and
expressed his great appreciation for Mr. Yatom's significant contribution
to Israel's security over the past 35 years, in both the IDF and the
Mossad.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Danny Yatom, throughout his career,
has distinguished himself by his personal integrity, self-sacrifice and
deep commitment to the country's security.

In his letter to the prime minister, Mr. Yatom wrote: "I do not accept
the findings of the Ciechanover Commission report regarding faults in my
performance, which were determined despite clear evidence to the contrary
which I presented to the commission's members.

"At the same time, I have no intention of ignoring the report and, as the
one who bears overall responsibility for the Mossad's activity, I have
decided to tender my resignation to you.

"Who more than you knows that, except for some isolated mishaps, the
Mossad has carried out bold and complex operations which ended in success
and which contributed greatly to Israel's security. However, as is the
case with the Mossad's clandestine activity, these operations remain
unknown to the public, and rightly so."

The head of the Mossad thanked the prime minister for the trust that he
showed in him and for his support during the time in which they worked
together.

Prime Minister Netanyahu will decide on a new head of the Mossad soon. He
asked Mr. Yatom to remain in his post until a successor is named and to
assist the new head in an orderly transition. Mr. Yatom readily agreed.

.
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