The World - News from March 20, 1989

The head of Israel’s Mossad secret service retired, ending a six-year career amid controversy and criticism, Israel Radio said. The radio identified the secret service chief publicly for the first time as Nahum Admoni. His name had been banned from publication while he held the post, and his successor’s identity is an official secret. In a brief ceremony, Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir and Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin thanked Admoni and praised his work during six years as the chief of Mossad, the radio said. Admoni had come under unprecedented public criticism after the High Court allowed publication of an article questioning his competence and describing intelligence blunders during his term.