The NSA is spying on Tel Aviv through the U.S. Embassy, says Israeli intelligence analyst

Totally regretting that massive drug deal I made at the nightclub across from the U.S. Embassy last weekend.

In a report on “>the spy box in Berlin, recently outed by German newspaper De Spiegel, “on the roofs of embassies in many more countries, including in Tel Aviv.”

Der Spiegel originally reported that the “Special Collection Service” (SCS), a unit within America's now-infamous National Security Agency (NSA), has been utilizing sketchy infrastructure atop the U.S. Embassy in Berlin to tap into signals passing by or through the embassy. Ex-NSA superstar Edward Snowden provided the paper documents showing that “the SCS operates its own sophisticated listening devices with which they can intercept virtually every popular method of communication: cellular signals, wireless networks and satellite communication.”

Here's how Der Spiegel described the spy box:

From the roof of the embassy, a special unit of the CIA and NSA can apparently monitor a large part of cellphone communication in the government quarter. … The necessary equipment is usually installed on the upper floors of the embassy buildings or on rooftops where the technology is covered with screens or Potemkin-like structures that protect it from prying eyes.

Hilariously, the best photo of Tel Aviv's own (underwhelming) version comes courtesy of Ali Mansouri, “>the “Isrotel” monstrosity next door to the embassy, and inexplicably released to the press by the Israel Security Agency after Mansouri was caught:

But don't expect any outraged government press statements or street riots 'round these parts.

A common misconception around the world is that Israelis will be offended when they learn their No. 1 ally/mama bird/butt buddy is spying on them. On the contrary, Israel invented this game. They're probably even in on it. Not only did Israeli companies supply the technology behind the NSA spying, but recent reports indicate Israeli authorities could have access to much of the agency's loot. The In fact, Danny Yatom, former head of the Mossad, “I can tell you with certain knowledge that [America] has been listening in on its allies, including Israel… not necessarily in [Benjamin] Netanyahu’s tenure as prime minister. The US doesn’t really care about anyone [but itself] and the Americans are vehemently denying the incidents. It could very well be that these things [monitoring calls] are happening here [in Israel] too. When the Americans think they need to listen in on someone, they’ll do just that.”

As I previously noted when Israel launched One could even say that some Israelis like being spied on, in a way — because at least then they know the “bad guys” are getting the same treatment. We'll just make sure to take our MDMA orders around the corner from Hayarkon Street next time.

As recently revealed in “>reported the Guardian, which revealed the Syrian regime's alleged involvement in the August chemical weapons attack heard around the world. “So I don’t believe that Israelis are not clever enough to know what [the U.S. is] putting on their roof,” said Solomon.

Still, he said, Israeli officials may not be aware of the extent to which the Americans are using the technology. “We know that [former Israeli Prime Minister and Defense Minister] Ehud Barack was using his mobile phone when he was