A Mossad secret service document leaked to Al Jazeera‘s Investigative Unit reveals that in 2010 Israel obtained stolen South African anti-tank missile technology.

South African intelligence covered it up. Years later, when two men charged with stealing the plans were put on trial in South Africa, prosecutors failed to release the full information of Israel‘s involvement.

Journalists who covered the case were fed a false account of events, and reported that Israelis had been offered the materials but “ were not interested „, and had dismissed the black market salesmen as „a joke“.

However, an Israeli secret service cable shows that Israeli businessmen had indeed been interested, had taken the salesmen seriously, likely purchased the blueprints and then apparently passed them on to the Mossad.