Shabtai Shavit - Head of the Mossad

HEAD OF THE MOSSAD

SHABTAI SHAVIT

HEAD OF THE

MOSSAD

In Pursuit of a Safe and Secure Israel

University of Notre Dame Press

Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre Dame Press

Notre Dame, Indiana 46556

Copyright 2020 by Shabtai Shavit

All Rights Reserved

Published in the United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Shavit, Shabtai, 1939- author. | al, Rami, editor. | Rodal-Spieler, Ariel, translator.

Title: Head of the Mossad : in pursuit of a safe and secure Israel / Shabtai Shavit ; [edited by Rami Tal ; translated by Ariel Rodal-Spieler].

Other titles: Rosh ha-Mosad. English

Description: Notre Dame, Indiana : University of Notre Dame Press, [2020] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020018392 (print) | LCCN 2020018393 (ebook) | ISBN 9780268108335 (hardback) | ISBN 9780268108366 (adobe pdf) | ISBN 9780268108359 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Shavit, Shabtai, 1939 | Israel. Mosad le-modiin ve-tafkidim meyuhadim. | Intelligence serviceIsrael. | National securityIsrael. | Intelligence officersIsraelBiography.

Classification: LCC UB251.I78 S5313 2020 (print) | LCC UB251.I78 (ebook) | DDC 327.1256940092 [B]dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020018392

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020018392

This e-Book was converted from the original source file by a third-party vendor. Readers who notice any formatting, textual, or readability issues are encouraged to contact the publisher at

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I began learning Arabic in kindergarten, when the Arabs of Balad-a- Sheikh, which later became Tel Hanan, would come to pick olives from the trees in the yard of our cabin in Nesher every year during the harvest season. Perhaps this is the reason that in tenth grade I chose to specialize in Middle Eastern studies and was a graduate of the first class of this track in Israel. When I started university following my military service, it was only natural for me to study Arabic language and literature and Middle Eastern history. From there to the Mossad the road was short. The path to becoming the director of the Mossad was much longer.

Preceded by six Mossad headsReuven Shiloah, Isser Harel, Meir Amit, Zvi Zamir, Yitzhak (Haka) Hofi, and Nahum AdmoniI was the first Mossad director that was not a member of the 1948 generation. I never knew Reuven Shiloah. I met Isser Harel only once I had already become director of the Mossad; and I worked with the other four directors quite closely throughout my years in the Mossad. They were role models and mentors to me, and I am grateful to them for everything they taught me. I am especially grateful to Nahum Admoni, to whom I owe, to a great extent, my appointment to the position.

Among the events that took place during my tenure as head of the Mossad (198996) were the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War era; the First Gulf War and Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamirs navigation of the state and the Israel Defense Forces through it; the peace agreement with Jordan, in which the Mossad played a central role; and the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

I had the great privilege of working for the Mossad for thirty-two years, seven of them as director. The Mossad has always been a sanctuary within the beleaguered State of Israel, from the War of Independence until today. It would be impossible to cover all of the organizations achievements, but there is no doubt that every one was made possible by the human factorcombatants, operations people, intelligence analysts, operations supporters, technologists, and administrative personnel. This is another opportunity for me to thank all of these people from the bottom of my heart, and to say that it was a pleasure to command people like them and that my achievements are their achievements.

There are several more people whom I would like to thank. Itzik Barzilais experience and deep knowledge of Iran has been of great help to me. Shmuel Bars expertise in intelligence analysis and understanding of the Middle East, global powers, and radical terrorism are no less than phenomenal. Shlomo Doron was my right-hand man in everything related to our struggle against the nonconventional aspirations of our enemies and the nuclearization of the Middle East. Dr. Hagai Tsoref, the director of the State Documents and Commemoration Department of the Israel State Archives, was an enormous help to me on two issuesone was the Yom Kippur War, and the other was the Palestinian refugee problem and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Rami Tal, who edited the book, was for me much more than an editor. The man is bursting with knowledge. My conversations with him, which sometimes turned into arguments, gave me a lot of food for thought throughout the writing of the book. The production team, especially Kuti Tepper, Mimi Baram, Keren Sitbon-Hemo, and Shlomit Partok, brought forth a fine and meticulous product. Dana Dagan, who for years worked as my assistant in my company (Athena, part of the Mer Group), typed up the manuscript with boundless dedication and speed. Dov Eichenwald, editor in chief and CEO of Yedioth Books, went out of his way to make sure this book was published. And Ariel Rodal-Spieler translated this book with professionalism and dedication.

Prof. Uriel Reichman, president and founder of the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, has provided me with an academic home that combines academic expertise with public and national commitment. My collaborative activities with Prof. Boaz Ganor, dean of the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy and executive director of the Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) at the IDC Herzliya, within the framework of the institute yielded fruits that are expressed in the pages of this book. And a special thanks is due to Stevie Weinberg, the ICTs deputy executive director, who helped me, in his efficient manner, with anything I needed throughout my writing.

Finally, I thank my loved ones, my family, my wife Yael, and my children and grandchildren, who have stood by me, supported me, and helped me understand the true meaning of life.

Shabtai Shavit

INTRODUCTION

The ceremony marking the change of command of the Mossad, during which I received my letter of appointment, took place on April 19, 1989, at the Prime Ministers Office in Jerusalem. Among those present were Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, who had chosen me to serve as director of the Mossad; minister of defense and former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin; Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff Dan Shomron; former Mossad directors; the Mossad Division Heads Forum (Rasha); the Heads of Services Committee (Varash); the military secretary to the prime minister; the prime ministers veteran stenographer Mitka Yaffe; the outgoing Mossad director Nahum Admoni and his family; and my own family, with the exception of my youngest son, who was off skiing in Switzerland.

The ceremony was modest and conducted with an air of understatement characteristic of Prime Minister Shamir. The prime minister read out Nahums letter marking the end of his tenure and thanked him briefly for his service and for his long-standing contribution to Israels national security. Nahum delivered some parting words. The prime minister read out my letter of appointment and wished me good luck in the new position. I then gave my prepared remarks, to which I had given a great deal of thought.

I began by mentioning my twenty-five years of service in the Mossad, which I believed had trained me for the esteemed role that I was taking on. Even so, I accepted the role with apprehension, veneration, and trepidation. I thanked the prime minister for choosing me, and Nahum for warmly recommending me for the job. I thanked my family and especially my wife, who at the beginning of my career had partaken in covert activities along with me. I emphasized the great sacrifice required of the family members of Mossad operatives.