Mossad chief may quit over Sharon

ARIEL SHARON, the Israeli Prime Minister, faces a deep split with Mossad, the country’s famed intelligence agency, over his strategy to defeat the Palestinian uprising.
According to Israeli officials and intelligence sources, the split could result in the departure of Ephraim Halevy, the highly respected spy chief, who has on several occasions openly challenged the Israeli leader.

The British-born Mossad director has been named as a possible Ambassador to Washington, a post which became vacant earlier this month. Although he has told colleagues that he is not interested in the appointment, he is coming under pressure to take it and open the way for a new intelligence chief from within Mr Sharon’s circle of confidants.

“Some people (in Government) are mentioning his name in connection to the post in Washington, because they want him out of Mossad,” an Israeli official said. “It has become very political.”