Those of us who participated both directly and in a professional capacity in 911 were and remain incensed by the dancing Israelis idiocy (along with the CIA did it fantasy). It is a comment on the gullibility of our society that otherwise intelligent informed people spread this nonsense.
I am not goin to address the others because I hate to give them a modicum of credibility and those who do are doing themselves an enormous disservice.
Again from Grok because it is a handy quick and less torturous research tool.
The "Dancing Israelis" conspiracy theory stems from an incident on September 11, 2001, when five Israeli men were arrested in New Jersey after being reported for suspicious behavior, including filming the World Trade Center attacks and appearing to celebrate. The theory alleges these men, supposedly linked to Mossad (Israel’s intelligence agency), had foreknowledge of the attacks or were involved in a broader Israeli conspiracy. Below, I’ll evaluate the validity of this theory based on available evidence, addressing its origins, claims, and counterarguments.
Background of the IncidentOn September 11, 2001, a New Jersey resident reported seeing five men—later identified as Sivan Kurzberg, Paul Kurzberg, Oded Ellner, Yaron Shmuel, and Omer Marmari—standing on a van in a parking lot, filming the burning Twin Towers and appearing “jovial” (smiling, hugging, and giving high-fives). They were employees of Urban Moving Systems, an Israeli-owned company. The FBI arrested them after finding items like box cutters, $4,700 in cash, foreign passports, and maps with highlighted locations in their van. Bomb-sniffing dogs reportedly reacted to the van, though no explosives were confirmed. The men were detained for 71 days, investigated for possible espionage or connections to the attacks, and then deported to Israel.
Core Claims of the Conspiracy Theory
- Mossad Connection: At least two of the men (Sivan and Paul Kurzberg) were allegedly Mossad agents, and Urban Moving Systems was a Mossad front. Conspiracy theorists claim they were spying on the 9/11 hijackers or had foreknowledge of the attacks.
- Foreknowledge: The men’s behavior (filming and celebrating) and a statement by one, Sivan Kurzberg, that they were in New York “to document the event,” are cited as evidence they knew the attacks were coming.
- Israeli Involvement: Some versions of the theory allege Israel orchestrated 9/11 to provoke U.S. military action in the Middle East, with the “Dancing Israelis” as proof of complicity.
- Cover-Up: The men’s release and deportation, allegedly under pressure from U.S. officials like Michael Chertoff, is claimed to indicate a cover-up of Israel’s role.
Evidence Supporting the Theory
- Initial Reports and Suspicion: The FBI and police found the men’s behavior suspicious. A 2002 report in The Forward cited an anonymous U.S. intelligence official claiming at least two were Mossad operatives and that Urban Moving Systems was a front.
- Mossad’s Warnings: In August 2001, Mossad reportedly warned the CIA of a possible large-scale terrorist attack in the U.S., mentioning up to 200 terrorists. This is cited as evidence of advanced knowledge, though the warning was vague and not specific to 9/11.
- Urban Moving Systems: The company’s owner, Dominik Suter, fled to Israel shortly after the arrests, which some interpret as evidence of guilt.
- Polygraph Issues: One of the men, Sivan Kurzberg, initially refused polygraph tests, fueling speculation about hidden motives.
- X Posts: Recent posts on X, such as those citing David Icke, claim two of the men were confirmed Mossad agents celebrating the attacks, reflecting ongoing belief in the theory.
Counterarguments and Debunking
- FBI Investigation: The FBI’s thorough investigation, documented in declassified reports, found no evidence linking the five men to the 9/11 attacks or foreknowledge. They were cleared of involvement in terrorism, though suspicions of espionage (unrelated to 9/11) persisted.
- Behavior Explained: The men explained their “jovial” behavior as relief that the U.S., having experienced terrorism, might now support Israel’s fight against Palestinian terrorism. No witness, including the initial caller, described them as “dancing”; the term likely originated from a misquote in a 2001 USA Today article.
- Mossad Connection Unproven: While The Forward reported a Mossad link, the FBI’s final assessment did not confirm this. The men were likely in the U.S. on work visas, and items like box cutters were consistent with their jobs at a moving company.
- Urban Moving Systems: The company was a legitimate business, and Suter’s departure could reflect fear of harassment or business collapse post-9/11, not guilt.
- Antisemitic Tropes: The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and others note that the theory taps into historical antisemitic narratives blaming Jews for global crises. Claims like “no Jews died in 9/11” (used to suggest foreknowledge) are false; Jewish victims were proportionate to New York’s population.
- Mossad’s Warning Contextualized: Mossad’s August 2001 warning was one of many from foreign intelligence agencies (e.g., UK, Egypt, France) about al-Qaeda activity. The 9/11 Commission Report noted the U.S. received multiple vague warnings, none actionable enough to prevent the attacks.
- Release and Deportation: The men were released after diplomatic pressure from U.S. officials, including New York congressional members, but this reflects standard procedure for visa violations, not a cover-up.
Recent Findings (Post-2021)No significant new evidence has emerged since 2021 to substantiate the conspiracy theory. Key developments include:
- Declassified FBI Documents: Additional FBI files, released via FOIA requests, confirm the agency’s conclusion that the men had no prior knowledge of 9/11. Some documents note ongoing counterintelligence concerns about Israeli activities in the U.S., but these are unrelated to the attacks.
- Persistent Misinformation: A 2024 ResearchGate paper and ADL reports highlight the theory’s persistence, driven by antisemitic echo chambers on social media. X posts from 2024–2025, like those by
@DrLoupis
and
@KAGdrogo
, show the narrative remains active, often without new evidence.
- Al-Qaeda’s Responsibility: Declassified information, such as Abu Zubaydah’s 2002 interrogation, reinforces al-Qaeda’s sole responsibility for 9/11, with no mention of Israeli involvement.
Validity AssessmentThe “Dancing Israelis” conspiracy theory lacks credible evidence and is largely invalid. While the men’s behavior raised legitimate suspicion on 9/11, exhaustive FBI investigations found no link to the attacks or Mossad-orchestrated foreknowledge. The theory relies on misinterpretations (e.g., “dancing” vs. “jovial”), unverified claims (e.g., Mossad front), and antisemitic tropes (e.g., Jewish control of global events). Mossad’s pre-9/11 warning to the CIA was vague and consistent with other intelligence reports, not proof of complicity.
The persistence of the theory, as seen in recent X posts, reflects misinformation and prejudice rather than new facts.Critical PerspectiveWhile the official narrative—that al-Qaeda alone executed 9/11—is supported by extensive evidence, skepticism of establishment accounts is warranted given historical intelligence failures (e.g., the U.S. ignoring pre-9/11 warnings). However, the “Dancing Israelis” theory diverts attention from these failures by scapegoating Israel without substantiation. The incident highlights how incomplete information and cultural biases can fuel conspiracies, especially in the chaotic aftermath of a tragedy.If you seek specific documents or further analysis of FBI reports, I can assist with a deeper dive or search for additional sources.
