The nature of the individuals' conduct, combined with intelligence information and historical information regarding past incidents involving Israeli Organized Crime, leads IS to believe
the incidents may well be an organized intelligence gathering activity.
...
In general, these individuals appear to be organized in teams of 8 to 10 people, with one person described as the "Team Leader".
...
Most admit to having served in the Israeli Military.
...
a majority of those questioned has stated they served in
military intelligence, electronic signal intercept, or explosive ordinance units.
...
Some have been linked to high-ranking officials in the
Israeli military.
One was the son of a two-star general, one served as the bodyguard to the head of the Israeli Army, one served in a Patriot missile unit. That these people are now traveling in the U.S. selling art seems not to fit their background.
...
Their stories are remarkable only in their consistency. At first, they will state that they are art students, either from the University of Jerusalem, or the Bezalel Academy of Arts in Jerusalem. Other times they will purport to be promoting a new art studio in the area. When pressed for details as to the location of the art studio or why they are selling the paintings, they become evasive. Some claim to be the artist who painted the artwork, others claim they promoting the work of others or of Israel. Information has been received which indicates
the art is actually produced in China.
...
Two were arrested by FPS in Plantation, FL with
counterfeit Social Security Cards
...
Passport irregularities have been reported.
...
A report from EPA/Denver involved a female art student going to the house of an EPA Special Agent to sell art, and returning later to photograph the house.
...
The Special Agent examined some of the artwork, but became suspicious when the students would not provide him with a contact telephone number in case he should decide to buy something. Subsequently, the Special Agent saw some of the exact same artwork for sale at kiosk in the Mall of Georgia. The Special Agent questioned the salesperson about the origin of the artwork, but the salesperson was uncooperative.
...
Aran OFEK stated that his father was a retired two-star general in the Israeli Army. (NFI). (ISP note: Israel recently launched its 5th spy satellite, identified as the OFEK 5.
...
Also arrested during this operation was Eran MOSHE (identified with I&NS #A75-894-459), who stated he was
a former Israeli special operations soldier
...
one of the Israelis (not identified in the report) stated that
five individuals in Israel were responsible for recruiting Israeli nationals to come to the U.S. for the purpose of selling art door-to-door. The detainee identified "ITAY' who lives in California, (subsequently identified as Itay SIMON), as the direct link between the five persons in Israel, and the U.S. operation. The detainee stated that the Texas contact for the organization is "Michael", who lives in the Dallas area and drives a black Jeep. The detainee stated that Michael (CALMANOVIC), is subordinate in the art-vending scheme to Itay (SIMON).
...
Ms. Stanton stated that CALMANOVIC had rented five (5) apartments in the complex, and that these apartments were occupied by 25 Israelis.
...
CALMANOVIC stated he was a recently dicharged electronic intercept operator for the Israeli military, and SIMON stated he was recently discharged from the Israeli Army, where he did "classified work for Israeli national security". SIMON refused to answer further questions regarding his military service. Both CALMANOVIC and SIMON were both arrested by I&NS and held on $50,000 bond. This bond was subsequently posted.
...
Telephone number 214-882-5196 was identified as a possible contact number for CALMANOVIC in Dallas. This number is owned by NEXTEL Communications.