Clandestine service in online hunt for men and women who 'possess daring, wits and finesse' and enjoy foreign travel

Prisoner X may not have been the ideal advertising tool. But the debacle of the Mossad agent who was found hanged in an isolation cell in an Israeli top-security prison has not deterred the state's secret service agency from seeking new recruits to the ranks of its legendary spies.

The Mossad has launched an online recruitment campaign appealing for "creative men/women who love challenges [to apply] for an interesting, out of the ordinary and dynamic job", according to Israel's biggest-selling newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth.

The advertisement, which has appeared on social network sites, says: "If you possess daring, wits and finesse, you can make an impact and perform a personal and national service," according to Yedioth.

"If you can excite, fascinate and motivate people, you might be made of the high-quality stuff that we're looking for. If you have all of that in you, the Mossad is open to you," it said.

The advert warns of an "irregular lifestyle" but promises a year's training followed by "brief and numerous trips overseas".

The Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, known universally as the Mossad, acquired a reputation for ruthlessness and ingenuity after its creation in 1948. High-risk clandestine operations have involved the use of cloned identities, sophisticated disguises and cutting-edge technology

But the Mossad has also attracted attention for bungled operations, including the attempted assassination of Khaled Meshaal, when agents squirted poison into the Hamas leader's ear in Amman, Jordan, in 1997. Israel was forced by King Hussein to hand over an antidote.

The case of Ben Zygier, an Australian-born Mossad operative known as Prisoner X, drew worldwide scrutiny earlier this year when it emerged that the agent had hanged himself while imprisoned in Israel under conditions of extreme secrecy.

According to the Mossad's website, the agency has positions available in special assignments, intelligence, resources and logistics and security. It advises that applicants will undergo security, medical and psychological screening and that "security related positions will be filled by appropriate persons only".