The story of Esther can be seen as an ancient example of intelligence gathering, with striking parallels to modern espionage events in Israel today. As a Jewish queen in the Persian Empire, Esther was in a unique position to gather critical information that would save her people from destruction. She used her access to the royal court to uncover the plot of Haman, who sought to annihilate the Jews. Esther’s bravery, combined with her strategic use of intelligence, allowed her to expose this threat and ultimately save the Jewish people, making her story one of the earliest examples of using secret information to protect a nation.

Fast forward to today, espionage remains a critical part of Israel’s survival. Modern Israeli intelligence agencies such as Mossad and Shin Bet have been instrumental in defending the nation against numerous threats. Israel has a long history of covert operations and intelligence work, whether it’s gathering information about enemy...