In brief
With her death, Magen's remarkable contributions to Mossad's operations and intelligence work are being remembered.
Aliza Magen, who dedicated around 40 years to the Mossad, Israel’s national intelligence agency, passed away on April 14 in Jerusalem at the age of 87. Her death was confirmed by a statement from the office of the Israeli prime minister, marking the loss of the organization’s highest-ranking female officer to date.Following her mandatory military service, Magen joined Mossad and rapidly ascended through its ranks, serving under three directors as a deputy and participating in high-stakes undercover operations across Europe. Many of the specifics of her significant missions remain classified, but her fluency in German enabled her to spearhead critical operations, including efforts against German scientists working on missile technology that threatened Israel.During her career, she played a crucial role in recruiting assets, including a former Nazi officer, while based in Austria. In the 1970s, Magen contributed to Operation Wrath of God, a covert mission targeting those behind the tragic terrorist attack at the 1972 Munich Olympics which resulted in the loss of 11 Israeli lives.Returning to Israel in the early 1980s, she transitioned to leadership roles within the agency, including overseeing the Tzomet division, which managed agents and intelligence-gathering operations abroad, as well as heading the operations center. Her passing evokes profound respect and recognition for her unparalleled service and contributions to national security.
