Who are Israel's Palestinian informants?

[Jefferson23]

Israel relies on information provided by a network of Palestinian collaborators. But how does the system really work?

Mohammed Omer Last updated: 06 Sep 2014

Gaza City - The public execution of alleged Palestinian informants for Israel in the Gaza Strip, known locally as collaborators, drew international attention recently, a few days before the end of Israel's seven-week military offensive in the coastal territory.

With beige sacks over their heads, several men were positioned on their knees in front of a white wall. Standing over them, their executioners: armed Palestinian fighters, dressed in all-black, balaclavas over their faces and AK-47s strapped to their sides.

At least 18 Palestinians were executed on August 22 in Gaza, accused of providing information to Israel during its recent war. But what exactly motivates a Palestinian to collaborate with the Israeli intelligence services, and how does the phenomenon work?

"Under pressure, I gave into [their] demand," said a former Palestinian collaborator, who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity. A resident of the Gaza Strip, the man said that an Israeli intelligence officer approached him in 1995, threatening to revoke his permit to work in Israel if he didn't divulge information about the location and activities of Hamas members, among others.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/09/palestinian-collaborators-gaza-history-israel-201492113636242365.html