Intelligence ties with Israel at risk, warns ex-spy chief

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 2, 2026

Former CIA station chief Ralph Goff warned that worsening diplomatic relations could lead Israel to cut intelligence-sharing with the UK, a move that would disproportionately harm British security efforts, especially regarding Iran. This caution comes amid tensions over the UK’s recent restrictions on West Bank goods, raising questions about the future of the crucial intelligence partnership between the two countries.

A former CIA station chief has warned that intelligence-sharing between Israel and the United Kingdom could be jeopardized if diplomatic relations continue to deteriorate. Ralph Goff, who served as a station chief six times over a 30-year career with the U.S. intelligence agency, said Israel might be willing to sever intelligence ties, a move he believes would impact Britain more than Israel.

Goff's comments followed statements by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who asserted that Israel had provided the UK with intelligence concerning an alleged Iranian-backed attack on British soil prior to the Royal Air Force Fairford incident. Netanyahu also indicated that this intelligence-sharing took place before the UK imposed restrictions last month on goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank—an action that has strained bilateral relations.

According to Goff, Israel's capabilities in cyber intelligence and its regional expertise, particularly relating to Iran, give it an advantage that would cause the UK to suffer disproportionately if intelligence cooperation ceased. “Israel would cut off intelligence-sharing if diplomatic ties worsened. I think Britain benefits most but only if we take Iran into consideration, where Israel has stronger capabilities — especially cyber,” he said.

However, some British security experts and academics challenge this perspective. They argue that Israel is unlikely to break intelligence ties with the UK, given that it also relies on British intelligence to safeguard its citizens abroad. While Israel may have extensive networks within the Middle East, MI6—the UK's foreign intelligence service—is viewed as having a broader, more global intelligence reach.

Dan Lomas, assistant professor of international relations at the University of Nottingham, expressed skepticism about the prospect of a halt in intelligence exchanges. He highlighted the mutually beneficial nature of the relationship, noting the complementary strengths of the two agencies. “There are probably strings of information that the Israelis, because of their geopolitical positioning, will have privileged access to, but the UK remains a global player in terms of intelligence,” Lomas said.

The dispute over intelligence cooperation comes amid heightened tensions following the UK's decision to ban imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a move that has drawn criticism from Israel. How this diplomatic friction will ultimately affect the longstanding intelligence partnership between the two nations remains uncertain.

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