The Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, popularly known as MOSSAD, is the national intelligence agency of the State of Israel. It is one of the main entities in the Israeli Intelligence Community, along with Aman (military intelligence) and Shin Bet (internal security).
Mossad is responsible for intelligence collection, covert operations, and counter-terrorism. Its director answers directly and only to the Prime Minister. Its annual budget is estimated to be around US$2.73 billion, and it is estimated that it employs around 7,000 people, making it one of the world's largest espionage agencies.
Mossad was formed on December 13, 1949, as the Central Institute for Coordination at the recommendation of Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion to Reuven Shiloah. Ben Gurion wanted a central body to coordinate and improve cooperation between the existing security services—the army's intelligence department (AMAN), the Internal Security Service (Shin Bet), and the foreign office's "political department".
Mossad's former motto, is a quote from the Bible (Proverbs 24:6): "For by wise guidance you can wage your war". The motto was later changed to another passage: Proverbs 11:14. This is translated as: "Where there is no guidance, a nation falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety."
