Binyamin Gibli, Lavon Affair figure, dies at 89

[Scurrilous]

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"Former IDF Military Intelligence chief and co-architect of the Lavon Affair Binyamin Gibli died in Tel Aviv on Wednesday at the age of 89.

In 1954, Col. Gibli was thought by some to set into motion Operation Suzannah, which used nine Egyptian-Jewish undercover agents, members of Unit 131, to bomb British and American targets in Egypt in an effort to reverse Britain's decision to withdraw from the Suez Canal. It was hoped that the attacks would turn the United States and Britain against Egyptian revolutionary leader (and future president) Gamal Abdul Nasser and wreck his decision to nationalize the Suez canal.

In July 1954, post offices in Egypt were bombed, as were an American library, a British-owned cinema and a train station.

The operation ended in failure when Egyptian security forces uncovered the unit - some believe it was betrayed by an informer - and arrested the members of Unit 131. One operative was killed in prison, two more were hanged, and others received lengthy prison service."

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