Security Clearance Level 2: Top Secret – Community

Security Clearance Level 2 is a matter in which the details depend on the role, the information involved and the circumstances of each case. In brief: Security clearance level 2, “Top Secret – Community”, is the second highest level on the 6-level scale. It is required in roles with access to information shared by the intelligence community. The check includes a questionnaire, an in-depth interview, background checks and sometimes a polygraph. A disqualification may be objected to within 30 days.

Security clearance level 2 is one of the higher clearance levels in Israel. It is intended for people who will be exposed to information shared by the intelligence community, and therefore the check is deeper and slower than at the lower levels. As a former Shin Bet employee and a security clearance lawyer with 15 years of experience, I accompany level 2 candidates before the interview, during it, and where necessary in an objection to a disqualification.

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What Is Security Clearance Level 2?

The clearance scale in Israel runs from level 1, the highest, to level 6, the lowest. Level 2 is called “Top Secret – Community”. It gives access to information in joint use by the intelligence bodies: the IDF, the Shin Bet and the Mossad. Such information is used to coordinate operations and share intelligence, and its disclosure may cause severe and lasting harm.

Who Is Required to Have Level 2 Clearance?

• Intelligence and research roles in Military Intelligence and in community bodies
• Roles in the Shin Bet and the defense establishment that involve shared information
• Liaison officers and senior staff roles
• Developers of systems that serve several security bodies
• Sensitive roles in the defense industries, when the role was classified at this level

The clearance is determined for the role, not for the person. The security officer in the organization determines the level of the role, and the Shin Bet checks the candidate’s suitability.

Level 2 in the IDF Versus Level 2 in Industry and the Public Service

The Shin Bet sets the rules of the check in both cases. The differences are mainly in the way the process is conducted:

• In the IDF: the check is carried out through the information security system, and the notice of unsuitability comes from the head of the Information Security Department (Regulation 10).
• In the defense industries and the public service: the security officer in the organization refers the candidate for a check, and the notice is delivered on behalf of the Shin Bet through the referring body (Regulation 6).
• The consequences: for a civilian employee, a disqualification harms work and livelihood directly. It is therefore particularly important to request interim relief already when filing the objection.

In both tracks the right to object before the objection committee is the same, and so is the option of requesting reconsideration when circumstances change.

What Is the Difference between Level 2 and the Adjacent Levels?

• Level 3 – Top Secret: the common level in classified roles in the IDF and in industry.
• Level 2 – Top Secret, Community: information shared by several intelligence bodies. A more comprehensive check.
• Level 1 – Preferred Secret: the rarest level, for strategic information on a strict “need to know” basis.

Moving from Level 3 to Level 2: What Changes?

A person who holds level 3 clearance and is designated for a level 2 role does not start from zero, but also does not receive the level automatically. Raising the level requires an additional check, which focuses on three things:

• Updating the questionnaire: everything that has changed since the previous check, such as family status, addresses, travel, debts and involvement in proceedings.
• Consistency: today’s answers are usually compared with what was given in the past. A gap between questionnaires raises questions, even when it results from forgetfulness.
• Depth: the interview at level 2 is longer and more detailed, and sometimes a polygraph test is added.

It is worth going over what you gave in the previous check before filling out the new questionnaire. If something was not reported then, it is better to deal with it on your own initiative and in an organized way.

What Does the Check at Level 2 Look Like?

1. A detailed personal questionnaire: family, addresses and studies in the last 10 years, work, travel abroad and financial situation.
2. A security interview: a long interview, sometimes in several sessions, that checks consistency and credibility.
3. Background checks: approaching references and other parties, and checking ties in Israel and abroad.
4. A polygraph: at the higher levels it is common, especially when questions arise about the reliability of the information.

At this level even small gaps between the questionnaire and the interview may delay the decision. It is therefore important to arrive prepared, with a full and consistent picture of the facts.

How to Prepare for the Interview at Level 2

1. Gather documents in advance: addresses, studies and work in the last 10 years, travel abroad, family details and debts.
2. Check consistency with the past: if you went through a clearance in the past, make sure that today’s answers are consistent with what was given then.
3. Do not cut corners: a partial answer that is discovered later harms credibility more than the fact itself.
4. Know the limits of self-incrimination: the interview is not confidential like a conversation with a lawyer. What to know about self-incrimination in the interview.
5. Prepare for the polygraph separately, if a test was set.
6. Consult before, not after: most problems are easier to prevent at the questionnaire stage than to fix in an objection. Preparing for a security interview.

What May Delay or Disqualify a Level 2 Clearance?

• Concealing information or contradictions between the questionnaire and the interview
• Unreported drug use
• Heavy debts or gambling
• Ties with parties in hostile countries
• A criminal record, even when the case was closed
• A psychological background that raises concern about resilience under pressure

A Repeat Check for Someone Who Already Holds Level 2 Clearance

The clearance is not permanent. A person serving in a level 2 role undergoes a repeat security check every few years. In addition, he may be checked on the initiative of the classifying body following an unusual event, such as a criminal proceeding, significant debts or a new tie with a party abroad.

In the repeat check the same principles apply: providing full and consistent information. A person who was found unsuitable in a repeat check is entitled to the same rights as a new candidate: a reasoned notice, an objection within 30 days, and a request for interim relief so that the role is not filled until the decision.

Disqualified at Level 2?

• An objection within 30 days to the objection committee, with an affidavit and a copy of the notice.
• The decision refers to a role or type of roles (Regulation 7(1) of the Shin Bet Regulations). A disqualification at level 2 does not necessarily mean there is no suitability for a lower level. It is worth checking this already at the objection stage.
• Reconsideration: if circumstances have changed, a new examination may be requested even before the end of the disqualification period, which lasts up to 5 years.

Frequently Asked Questions about Security Clearance Level 2

How Long Does Level 2 Clearance Take?

Usually several months, and sometimes more when there are ties abroad or a complex background. If the process is stuck for a long time, you can write and ask for an update.

Is a Polygraph Test Mandatory at Level 2?

Not in every case, but at the higher levels it is common. If a test was set for you, it is worth preparing for it separately.

Does Past Drug Use Disqualify a Level 2 Clearance?

Not automatically. The frequency, the time that has passed and the reporting are examined. Concealment that is discovered later is more serious than the use itself, and it is worth knowing the limits of self-incrimination before the interview.

I Was Disqualified at Level 2. Can I Receive a Lower Level?

Possibly. The decision refers to a particular role or type of roles, so it is important to read the notice carefully and examine the options with a lawyer.

Is the Meeting with the Lawyer Confidential?

Yes. The conversation is protected by attorney-client privilege, unlike the interview itself.

Further reading: Security clearance levels 1–6 · Security clearance level 3 · Security clearance level 5 · How long does security clearance take · Security clearance lawyer