# The Nili Spy Ring (1915–1917)

URL: https://allhistories.com/israel/timeline/1915-the-nili-spy-ring
Themes: Key Events

Nili was a Jewish espionage network that assisted Britain against the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1917. Based in Zikhron Ya'akov, with branches in Hadera and other colonies, it was led by the agronomist Aaron Aaronsohn, his sisters Sarah and Rivka, his brother Alexander and Avshalom Feinberg. Its name is a Hebrew acronym of 1 Samuel 15:29, 'the Eternal One of Israel will not lie'. During the locust plague of 1915 the Ottoman authorities enlisted Aaronsohn, the region's leading agronomist, to fight the insects, which let his team travel the country and gather information on Ottoman camps and troop movements. British intelligence at first ignored the group, but after Aaronsohn reached London he gained the cooperation of Sir Mark Sykes. From February to September 1917 the yacht Managem called off the coast at Atlit to collect reports. Feinberg was killed trying to reach Egypt on foot. In autumn 1917 the Ottomans intercepted a carrier pigeon, broke the code and in October surrounded Zikhron Ya'akov. Sarah Aaronsohn took her own life after four days of torture, and Yosef Lishansky and Na'aman Belkind were hanged. Most of the Yishuv leadership had opposed Nili, fearing reprisals.

## Why it matters
Nili's intelligence contributed to the British conquest of southern Palestine, while its independent action remained controversial in the Yishuv for decades.

Ruler at the Time: [Mehmed V](https://allhistories.com/israel/rulers/mehmed-v)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Nili](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nili)
- [Wikipedia — Sarah Aaronsohn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Aaronsohn)
- [Wikipedia — Aaron Aaronsohn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Aaronsohn)