Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Netanyahu: If Lebanese Army takes steps to disarm Hezbollah, Israel will engage in reciprocal measures, including phased reduction of Israeli military presence in Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Photojournalist Houssam Al-Masri martyred, reporters Hatem Omar, Mohammad Ashraf Salameh injured in Israeli strike on Nasser Medical Complex.
Israeli media: Intense US efforts are being made to resolve differences, such as the issue of the Israeli presence on Mount Hermon and in southern Syria
Israeli media: The security agreement means amending the disengagement agreement, which will also address the Druze issue
Israeli media: Attempts to reach a security agreement between 'Israel' and Syria were among the topics discussed at the Paris meeting
Israeli media: Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif rejected a US proposal to join the recent tripartite meeting between Tom Barrack, al-Shaibani, and Dermer
Saba News Agency: Two martyred, five injured in a preliminary toll of the Israeli aggression on the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street in Sanaa
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: We observed a state of confusion among the enemy's aircraft squadron after Yemeni air defenses intercepted the attack
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: The Yemeni air defense forces succeeded in neutralizing a squadron of enemy aircraft and prevented airstrikes on some governorates
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: Our air defenses and missile forces forced a formation of enemy aircraft to flee the airspace

Elizabeth Tsurkov: IOF soldier to 'human rights' activist pipeline

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Electronic Intifada
  • 13 Jul 2023 12:58
4 Min Read

A recent report by the Electronic Intifada investigates the peculiarities of her dubious line of work in touring the hotspots of the Middle East. 

  • x
  • An article from an IOF military publication shows Tsurkov in military fatigues during her time as an intelligence analyst 2007 (Israeli media)
    An article from an IOF military publication shows Tsurkov in military fatigues during her time as an intelligence analyst 2007 (Israeli media)

The status and purpose of Elizabeth Tsurkov have been widely contentious after news of her apprehension came out. 

A recent report by the Electronic Intifada investigates the peculiarities of her dubious line of work in touring the hotspots of the Middle East. 

According to her sister, Tsurkov was reportedly apprehended back in March, however, however news of her disappearance was kept secret in hopes that the matter would be resolved swiftly. 

The Cradle's report last week appears to have forced "Israel’s" hand. 

“Elizabeth Tsurkov is still alive and we hold Iraq responsible for her safety and well-being,” Netanyahu’s office said shortly after the report came out: accusing Kataib Hezbollah of holding her hostage.

Kataib Hezbollah then issued a statement in response denying responsibility for her apprehension, but describing Tsurkov as an Israeli security agent. 

An Israeli official, cited by the Times of Israel, said Tsurkov "is absolutely not a  member of Mossad, period, exclamation point, underline."

The Israeli narrative claims that Tsurkov is a journalist and a human rights activist doing on-field research for her doctorate at Princeton University however a lot of key factors raise valid suspicions about Tsurkov being an Israeli asset. 

Read more: Elizabeth Tsurkov, Israeli woman kidnapped in Iraq: Israeli media

In an article for the Israeli newspaper Tikun Alam,  Richard Silverstein argues that while Tsurkov may not be a Mossad agent she might very likely be a Mossad asset such that there are "many cases in which Israeli intelligence has exploited journalists and academics who have reported in countries where it has no official presence. They are not employed by Mossad as agents, but they serve as intelligence assets. Certainly, the Mossad would be extremely interested in her research in Syria and Iraq.”  

Related News

Kurdistan's Lahur Sheikh Jangi arrested in Sulaymaniyah after clashes

Al-Fayyad: PMF is a sovereign Iraqi defense force

Former Israeli Intelligence Analyst

Tsurkov, for one, is not just any foreign journalist interested in Arab politics. Tsurkov actively engaged in espionage-type concealment and deception by using her Russian passport to enter Iraq (Lebanon and Syria) whose national laws prohibit any Israeli settler from entering their territories: not to mention an Israeli settler tasked with information-gathering.  

Furthermore, while it may not be confirmed that Tsurkov was tasked with information-gathering missions for the Mossad, her former work as an intelligence agent for the IOF during the 2006 war on Lebanon, is sufficient to reasonably assess her as a threat to national security. 

Princeton's Ban on Research in Iraq

Moreover, the narrative about conducting research for Princeton in Iraq is also a problematic pretext. Princeton strictly forbids students from conducting any university-related research in Iraq for safety reasons. Even if Tsurkov's information-gathering was strictly for academic purposes, the research wouldn't be recognized as part of her dissertation and would have been screened in the human subjects review such that field research in Iraq is expressly forbidden under Princeton University law. 

Even in the statement that they had released following the news of Tsurkov's apprehension, Princeton did not address whether it approved her trips nor did they comment on what she was doing in Iraq. Additionally, her Ph.D. adviser refused to answer any requests for comment by phone and email.

“You cannot travel to a Category X country on a personal trip and then engage in activities that are university-related while you are there,” The Princeton policy reads. 

Support for Subversion and Intervention 

Tsurkov's activism and support for human rights have often been coupled with subversive and interventionist advocacy. This is best exemplified by her work in Syria where she was keen to white-wash armed groups, like HTS, despite their long-standing affiliation with Al-Qaeda. 

New video from Hayat Tahrir a-Sham showing its commander visiting IDPs & inquiring about their needs, promising to address them. Jolani notably describes the enemies of the "Sunni people" of Idlib as disbelievers who seek to turn Sunnis into a minority. pic.twitter.com/3o1eTC9uWY

— Elizabeth Tsurkov🌻 (@Elizrael) December 18, 2020

Most significantly, Tsurkov has praised the NATO intervention in Libya, the imposition of a no-fly zone in Syria, and the brutal US airstrikes on Syria and Iraq.

Ironically, Tsurkov, whose doctorate is supposedly dedicated to studying the ills of sectarianism in Iraq and Syria has constantly parrotted sectarian rhetorics and narratives. 

Additionally, Tsurkov's research was far from being impartial. She had recurrently pressed for conclusions that incite internal strife. Enthusiastically taking sides and promoting instability in regard to questions Kurdistan and Moqtada al-Sadr. 

Read more: Iraqi Hezbollah says admission of Israeli agent in Iraq 'dangerous'

  • Iraq
  • Elizabeth Tsurkov
  • "Israel"

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS