Broken Lands

by Boaz Klachkin

  “Back at home, I organized all the information I had squeezed out of the prisoner and made a list of the required equipment and people I would need for the operation. The numerous rehearsals I had set-up in my mind confirmed that I had coordinated all the elements for the mission at hand. I picked up my cell phone and sat back in my armchair, taking a big, anxious, deep breath. I punched in my password and dialed one of the many classified numbers in my contact list.

  “‘Uzi. Shalom, buddy. I need to set up a meeting with you as soon as possible. You know where! I want you to contact Ibrahim and Salem to see if they are available.’ Uzi understood what he had to do after hearing the code phrase: ‘you know where.’ After I made all the necessary calls, I prepared a strong cup of Turkish coffee and sat back in my armchair contemplating the upcoming scenarios. The meeting would take place on “The Links”. A round of golf is always a healthy way to boost the ego while sharpening visual perception and body control.

  “The Caesarea Golf Club is Israel’s best golf course. Most of the members at the club, including my father, were from the business community. I had guest passes that my dad had given me earlier that year, so making reservations was no problem. We didn’t have to worry about running into someone who knew anything about our backgrounds. The golf course is in a class of its own; laid-out with international specifications, exemplifying great ingenuity in landscaping with many challenging hazards. It has become a favorite for many international players, and my dad and I enjoyed playing many rounds there.”

  I have many wonderful memories from my teenage years and some of the best times were when we spent quality time playing and talking about life on the golf course. My father was always busy with his business deals, and here we had some great man-to-man talks that taught me a lot of things about him; things that I could not acquire at home.

  Focusing back on talking to Shlomo, I continued, “As we played the round, we settled all the preliminaries for the plan of attack. The only hole-in-one we talked about was hitting a single-shot kill of any of the targeted enemy operatives that we would encounter. By the time we had trekked the ten-and-a-half kilometers of the golf course, we were all clear on what each one of us was to do during the operation. Uzi won the match with a five-over-par round and received his winning bets. We all enjoyed playing golf; it gave us a great deal of pleasure and always served to release some stress.

  “Salem, who served as a Bedouin tracker in his third year in the army, enjoyed the challenge of the game, but his strength in the game was manifested by his keen ability to calculate the distances to the flag from any point on the course within five yards; without the aid of the markers. Making good contact with the ball was a different story, but we have worked on that for quite some time. The other guys teased him and declared that he would be better off caddying. Ibrahim, a Druze from a family of farmers in the North, could not stop complaining about his pitching game. He contended that if it had not been for his special attraction to sand traps, he would have surely won the match. Being that we were all from the same army unit, we were all very close, having shared the privilege of keeping an eye on one another in many army maneuvers. Recognized for our incredible efficiency rating, we were known as the best commandos in our base. I had total confidence in their poise and always put them at the top of my list for all missions. I could always depend on them, regardless of the mission; and it usually meant putting their lives on the line for their country.

  “The following evening, Ibrahim, Salem, Uzi and I, organized the necessary gear and journeyed to the Israeli-Lebanese border. We reflected on all the possible, potential scenarios, variations and options, which we had clearly laid out during our briefing. This was the most important mission that we would ever venture on. We knew that our lives were just as much on the line as the lives of our friends who were being held by the Hezbollah.

  “When we reached the border, it was well-guarded; nevertheless, we initiated the plan to divert both the Lebanese and the Israeli troops at many points along the divide. Each one of us had set up an explosive device along different points of the border perimeter. We were all black-belt martial arts specialists but we knew that if we would be spotted, none of our special hand-to-hand tools could possibly help; only our high-ranking proficiency in target shooting and explosive detonation would be to our advantage at that particular point. We waited for the optimum moment to distract the Lebanese border guards and crossed the border only when the explosions went off in the appropriate positions which had created the desired corridor. During all the panic and commotion, we succeeded in breaching the border undetected.

  “I configured the field of rescue as a grid, just like in a chess board, containing 64 sectors. We used chess moves to call out maneuvers and designated positional commands within the perimeter. Each of us on the team had a rank, with an interchangeable mobile combination of unlimited moves in any direction and range, precisely geared to a manner of movement. The precision factor got a high rating during our usual exercises and we intended on implementing everything as planned. When all the players were in their respective positions, we broke through the Lebanese border undetected. We carried the minimum number of arms necessary for the mission and blew up the explosive devices we had planted at different points simultaneously, thus creating more distractions that kept any Hezbollah troops far from our present positions. In the heat of the moment, away from all the havoc and confusion, we entered the Lebanese hills without leaving a trace while the distracted guards searched the vicinity of the blasts.

  “The darkness was again shattered by the additional explosions that were triggered by motion detectors we had planted. The Hezbollah guards were immediately blown to bits the second they arrived to examine our point of penetration at the border. At 23:00 hours, we started towards the compound where the abducted soldiers were being held captive. The information that I got at the prison during my private, unscheduled interrogation session was quite precise. The specifics that I got from the prisoner had been mapped accordingly, and I was sure of the accuracy since I was quite familiar with the topography of the area. We quietly, yet rapidly, approached the bunker and were rather surprised to see such a light defensive posture around the compound. I assured myself that the scarcity of guards at the compound was likely due to the explosions we had set minutes earlier. We split up as planned once we neared the designated target. The compound was fenced with barbed wire and had one main gate. It was secured by two Hezbollah guards, who seemed on edge due to the breach caused by our special signal busters which hampered their communication abilities.

  “Once we neutralized the guards at the compound entrance, we entered the bunker and scattered additional silenced M-16 rounds into every additional guard that moved. Check! The booby traps we had scattered around the arena did their work, as more of the guards saw their final seconds of life upon stepping hurriedly into the designated assault area. We released the hostages in a matter of seconds. Checkmate! Just seconds from the time of entry! We hurried back to a special pickup point within the Israeli border, where a private helicopter was waiting for our arrival. It was owned and piloted by Chaim Levinstein, a retired General in the Air Force who had been very excited to lend a hand when I had originally contacted him and explained our goals. He arranged for the air corridor to be secured for his landing and takeoff. The operation was flawless and the helicopter took off once all of us were safely on board, just minutes before the IDF soldiers arrived to assess all the activity near the border. We immediately began caring for Yossi and Dani, who were battered and bruised, and psychologically impaired as a consequence of their horrific period in captivity. There were signs of torture and abuse all over their bodies. They were tearful and touched with emotion; the joy of seeing their friends and having the fulfillment of hope and freedom overwhelmed them. I shed a tear as well, but no one noticed since the focus was on them.

  “Most assuredly, that week was the happiest of all f
or the families of the freed soldiers. In the past, most of those abducted were never as lucky. There were no special press releases or any special government announcements about the freed hostages. However, it was quite ironic to hear the condemnations stated by the Lebanese government and many members of the UN about the breach made by Israel. In the end, my government did admit that there had been a rescue mission and that it had been authorized due to the unreported abduction of our soldiers. The rescue operation received no media coverage. Unsung heroes always have an inner force that keeps the pride and memories of their actions aflame in their own minds and the minds of those they helped save. Our names would not be added to the long list of heroes in the history of the Israeli military, but heroes we were, nonetheless. Hearing a report about our mission on CNN or some other biased network would not matter at all. We accomplished one of the most glorious tasks that soldiers can do for one another and that was all we needed for our spirits and souls.

  “My crew and I joined in the celebration with Yossi and Dani’s parents, only after they insisted on meeting those who had so bravely risked their lives to save their sons. We were greeted with hugs and kisses and were presented with a special cake baked for the occasion, in the shape of the Star of David and decorated with white and blue striped frosting.

  “The video recording that had been in the possession of the UN Forces in the area showed extensive, graphic footage of the actual abduction by the Hezbollah operatives. The Israeli Minister of Defense demanded that the video be turned over to our government to use as evidence thus justifying the breach and the rescue operation. The demands made and the fury expressed by the Israeli Government was to no available, however. The UN rationalized withholding the release of the tape for reasons justified by a mandate, which declared the necessity to maintain strict neutrality in dealing with logistics or information that might show partiality. Unfortunately, along with the refusal to release the tape, the UN Security Council voted to reprimand the Israelis for their breach of the Lebanese border. The Hezbollah’s illegal actions were not scrutinized and were completely unmentioned in any of the UN Security Council’s meetings. As always, the usual list of nations voted against Israel because of its supposed, aggressive action.

  “Regardless of our successful mission, we still had to undergo a military trial; this was standard procedure under the circumstances. During the proceedings, our insubordination was more in question than our methodology; a deviation from protocol which proved to be the only way we could have achieved our incredibly heroic feat. After the trial, the commanders of the Organization’s Special Forces Unit called on me to be interviewed at their headquarters. I had heard some buzz about this special group, but now I was confronted with the reality head-on. They offered me a position in one of their tactical units and explained that I could start immediately. I accepted, and here I am today sitting here with you.

  “That night after the trial we celebrated our success, knowing that the next day each one of us was going back to his regular routine. The club scene in Tel-Aviv was always special; there were hundreds of venues from which to choose. Those memorable party days were filled with the youthful energy and freedom that dominated our social lives. Recreational time off always gave us a fresh start to deal with the tensions in our professional lives. It was party time and we knew how to do that well and have a good time. The wildlife we had was ours to enjoy, and with the situation being what it was, we intended to live it up with gusto and put all anxieties aside.

  “After getting some recommendations from Udi’s friends - who knew every place in town - we chose to meet at Club Indigo. The place was packed with people of all ages, bouncing and shifting everywhere. The lounges were bustling with masses of people socializing, exchanging intimacy, both physical and verbal. The atmosphere was enchanting with dazzling lights, as large screens showed a montage of animals in their natural habitat, underwater ocean life, and breathtaking scenes of geographical settings like deserts and tropical forests.

  “We took a table near the bar, ordered drinks, and began to take in the cheerful atmosphere. It was obvious that we were noticed by the gazes and smiles that were coming in our direction. We began to feel even more relaxed, returning the looks and smiles. The drinks we had ordered arrived, and we started reminiscing about our mission. We raised our drinks in recognition of our success.

  “‘Cheers guys,’ I stated loudly. ‘Le’Chaim,’ they all joined, as we clicked our glasses.

  “‘Those low-life scum bags will think twice about holding any of our guys ever again,’ commented Uzi, as Ibrahim sipped on his ginger ale.

  “‘Yeah, and if they try it again, we’ll just go after them, kick some ass and send those bastards to hell,’ responded Salem zealously.

  “‘Forget it guys! This is a time for play,’ I interrupted. ‘Yair Levi, you’re right,’ said Uzi. That night was a memorable one for all of us. Still, as much as it charged us up, we all fell back into the groove the next day when we got back to our units and the tasks at hand.”

  “Very cool stuff, I must admit.” said Shlomo. “I am so extremely honored to be working under your command, sir. I understand that our Organization has a variety of divisions and I hope to learn more about them soon.”

  “Yes, we have special units that keep a close watch on the various terrorist groups,” I continued. “We are perpetually focused on those individuals and groups with ties to ISIS, Al Qaeda, and the many Neo-Nazi groups in Europe and the Americas. When we get information about a potential terrorist attack, we immediately notify the authorities in that specific foreign venue. And if it’s an attack on a Jewish population, our units embark directly to the point of action regardless of the venue. On most of the insurgencies, we have nullified the pending terrorist operators and further revealed their future intentions from material found on their computers. There is no shame in the destruction resulting from our actions, as long as there aren’t any innocent bystanders endangered during any of our covert assaults.

  At the end of the century, as a result of the increase in terrorist activities, our Organization expanded its activities by increasing the number of assault teams.

  There have been countless attacks on Jews everywhere around the world, especially on Israelis who happen to be abroad. We are on alert all the time and could certainly use as many proficient operatives as we can sign up, both locally and abroad.”

  “Thank you, sir,” added Shlomo. “I hope that I can reach your level of accomplishment. I am proud to be on your team, sir.”

  “You will be just fine, provided that you understand the level of application needed. I can assure you that you will have the most highly qualified support teams behind you.”

  “I hope to see you soon, sir. This has been a very inspiring conversation,” said Shlomo in a tone of appreciation. We shook hands, and got up. Shlomo stood at attention and saluted me.

  “At ease, soldier, and good luck with your upcoming missions,” I said, concluding our talk. As I walked down the lobby towards the pool, I thought about how Shlomo reminded me of myself when I began my tour-of-duty; anxious and proud to be the best at what I do. I felt fortunate and lucky to be where I am, inspiring young recruits and setting the tone for their service, inspiring them to be motivated, giving them the impetus to strive to be the best.

  Chapter Three

  Tel-Aviv was the best of all places to unwind from the pressures of everyday life. However, the constant threat of terrorist attacks blanketed the city’s atmosphere day and night, as it did in every other major city in the world. If it wasn’t for Israel’s anti-missile laser technology, its major cities would have been bombarded on a daily basis. Nonetheless, there were still many Al-Qaeda operatives hiding within the local Arab communities upping the likelihood of a suicide-bomber attack, a drive-by shooting, or a hit-and-run attack. The liberal movement and its many sponsored branches made it very difficult for our intelligence op
erations to take out those who were a clear threat to the security of our nation. But that didn’t stop our stealth operatives from taking out as many Jihadists wherever they were hiding, whether in Israel or anywhere else in the world.

  Udi and Sarah went out that evening, and when they arrived at the La Corona restaurant, it was filled to the brim with its regular patrons and some celebrities. The atmosphere was alive with people laughing, chatting and having an overall good time enjoying their dinner. A casual observer of the scene would never have thought that there was so much turmoil going on in and around the Middle East. The motto ‘Life Must Go On’ might as well have been graffitied on every wall.

  “It is a good thing you made reservations,” said Sarah. “Their reservation list is months long, but in our case, it was arranged through the Organization. Luckily, we have some pull here, but nonetheless, it still took some maneuvering for the owners to save a table for us,” said Udi.

  The hostess led them to their reserved table. When they were seated, Udi looked around and noticed that Erez Harrari was sitting with two female friends at one of the tables in the back. Erez was one of those geniuses in the scanning and surveillance unit for IsraEyes. Everyone in the command room was proud to be part of his staff. By the age of 13, he had already built and compiled his own databases. He had absorbed everything that was taught about computer sciences, and developed new ways of combining algorithmic and digital data. He strove to create new formats that were unique to the technological standards of that time.