Israel's external security service, Mossad, has for the first time placed job advertisements in the newspapers as it kicked off a new recruitment campaign Sunday.
"Mossad is opening up. Not to everyone, not to many, but perhaps to you," said the ads, designed by the Arielli publicity agency.
Hopefuls should be aged between 25 and 35, and be "tempted by a thrilling career." They are invited to send in a resume to join "an elite unit which demands both exceptional skills and exceptional motivation."
Mossad's current head, Ephraim Halevy, is behind the press campaign. It has received the green light from Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who takes ultimate charge of the secret services.
"We have more need of secret agents than ever, beacuse of the dangers that continue to threaten us, but we face relentless competition from the world of hi-tech, which offers very attractive salaries and career structures," former Mossad head Yitzhak Hofi told Israel public radio.
He said the bulk of Mossad operaratives were "gifted, motivated and carefully selected" university graduates.
Another former Mossad head, Shabtai Shavit, told the radio that "the peace process has changed the priorities of young Israelis, who now find material success more attractive than joining the security services."
Other secret services, including the United States and Britain, have also used press campaigns to recruit agents - OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AFP)
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