Story perspectives

Pentagon Calls Israel Threat Critical, Trump Rebukes Netanyahu

6/11/2026

Summary

Pentagon Raises Threat

The United States Pentagon raised Israel’s counter-intelligence threat level to “critical.”
The Defense Intelligence Agency reported Israeli spyware on phones of U.S. staff and attempts to plant devices at a DIA site and a Secret Service vehicle.
Officials said Israel spied on negotiators Steve Witkoff, Elbridge Colby and Michael DiMino IV.
President Donald Trump rebuked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel’s Lebanon campaign.

Summary

White House Denies

Israeli Embassy in Washington denied the spying claims as false and politically motivated.
A White House official called the story false and said it came from someone uninformed.
Pentagon declined comment while ODNI ignored inquiries.
U.S. officials in Israel now use burner phones and limit hotel-room discussions.
Emily Harding of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) called Israel’s intelligence service hyper-aggressive and warned Iran dispute may strain trust.

History

Historical Context

After the 1975 Church Committee exposed intelligence abuses, Congress enacted the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in 1978—approved 80-0 and signed by President Jimmy Carter—creating the FISA Court, which has denied only 12 of 33,942 warrant requests (0.03%). Today the Pentagon’s claim that Israeli spyware threatens U.S. staff echoes the act’s original aim to curb foreign espionage and may prompt new oversight legislation.

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Pentagon Raises Threat

The United States Pentagon raised Israel’s counter-intelligence threat level to “critical.”
The Defense Intelligence Agency reported Israeli spyware on phones of U.S. staff and attempts to plant devices at a DIA site and a Secret Service vehicle.
Officials said Israel spied on negotiators Steve Witkoff, Elbridge Colby and Michael DiMino IV.
President Donald Trump rebuked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel’s Lebanon campaign.

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