Israel steps up covert activity

Israel’s military chief of staff has said he has ordered his forces to step up covert operations in enemy countries.

Major General Benny Gantz made the remarks yesterday in an interview published in Israel’s Yediot Ahronot daily.

“You almost won’t find a point in time where something isn’t happening somewhere in the world,” he said. “I am escalating all those special operations.”

Maj Gen Gantz did not identify any of the countries or give any further details.

He said 2012 was a critical year in the stand-off between Israel and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme.