____________________________________________ 5 IICC Perspectives makers in order to acquire information that could serve as a definitive warning of war ("smoking gun" or "golden piece of intelligence"). Information is of immense importance and forms the foundation of all intelligence work. It is what distinguishes intelligence from other disciplines concerned with understanding reality. However, the surprise attack of October 7 reminded us once again that important matters do not always appear in information, or when they do, they are difficult to identify without the correct conceptual framework. Information supports several possibilities but without proposing additional possibilities and critically examining them, the information itself is of limited value. The information that was received and the hope for a "golden piece of intelligence" proved disappointing in this case, as in many others. Harkabi also warned against the tendency to exaggerate the importance of information. The illusion of certainty is thus almost a natural result of the connection formed between experts and the flow of high-quality information, which theoretically reinforced their expertise and eliminated all doubt and ambiguity. This was likely influenced by a new approach which began to filter into the Intelligence Corps in the 1990s. The approach has some advantages but also notable drawbacks. Apparently, it provided a convenient framework for both the development of the illusion of certainty and for the shift in intelligence’s role and position at the decision-makers’ table. “Enabling intelligence” has become more "committed" to Israel's political and military strategy and more "mobilized" to influence efforts aimed at shaping reality, often bypassing the effort to understand it. There is no doubt that the Israeli intelligence community had a deep, abiding problem in understanding how Hamas translated its vision into a concrete offensive plan, the military buildup to implement the plan, and the decision to attack IDF soldiers as viewed through Hamas binoculars Logos of the Israeli Intelligence Community three organs – Mossad, ISA (Shabak) and Aman (INSS)
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