by Uzi Eilam
“What, exactly? Please clarify,” the British representative urged.
“Please, gentlemen,” chimed in Dr. Licht, the German representative and sole woman on the team. “Let’s let the IAEA’s people present the new information with no interruptions. This is a complex topic that requires attention and understanding.”
“Thank you, Dr. Licht. We’ve discovered a connection, closer than we previously believed, between Iran and North Korea. We found out that Iran shepherded the nuclear reactor project that North Korea built in Syria. As you remember, that facility, which was still under construction, was bombed by the Israeli Air Force…”
“And that’s what’s troubling you folks at IAEA?” Chairman Johnston wondered.
“No, sir, I’m just getting to that. The technology for enriching uranium with centrifuges was sold by the Pakistani scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, initially to Iraq. At the time, Iraq was attempting to attain fissile material for nuclear bombs in place of the plutonium that would have been manufactured in the reactor in Osirak, which the Israelis bombed. Hazy information that we have received regarding the development of long-range missiles in Iraq also points to the connection formed between the Iraqis and Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan. Iran followed in the footsteps of its bitter enemy Saddam Hussein of Iraq and, probably utilizing the same connections, managed to significantly improve its long-range missiles, as well as forge a relationship with Qadeer Khan, the centrifuge expert from Pakistan…”
“You have managed to confuse me,” the Russian grumbled. “What does missile technology have to do with uranium enrichment? And how does this concern North Korea and a nuclear explosion that might or might not have happened? And what does our countries’ agreement with Iran have to do with this whole fantastic story?”
The man, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was well aware of the Scud-B missiles that Russia had sold to Iraq, and how North Korea had acquired the technology with the help of Russian scientists. Before setting out for the monitoring team meeting, he had also been briefed about the importance of helping ensure that Iran was not dragged back into having sanctions leveled against it again due to accusations that it had violated the agreement.
“We’re concerned,” the head of the Monitoring Division insisted, “that there’s a solid secret relationship between Iranian nuclear scientists and nuclear weapons experts in North Korea. The very fact that a nuclear research reactor was discreetly built in Syria, before it was destroyed by bombing it, is an indication of the combined threat posed by Iran and North Korea. Iran might bypass its supposed commitments not to continue developing nuclear weapons without explicitly violating the agreement. We can’t dismiss the possibility that Iranian guests took part in the latest nuclear explosion. Monitoring stations in Sweden and New Zealand claim that the latest earthquake whose epicenter was located in the northern region of North Korea was indeed caused by a nuclear explosion. And meanwhile, in the background, we’re receiving disturbing information about involvement by the commander of Hezbollah’s military arm, who is using a small team of technological specialists to expand the connection between Iranian scientists and North Korean ones. This connection is both in regard to nuclear topics and to long-range missile technology.”
“You have the best connection with North Korea,” Dr. Johnston turned to the Chinese representative. “Maybe you could inquire to what extent the suspicions raised by IAEA have a basis in reality? What improper connections exist between Iran and North Korea?”
“Our role in the monitoring team is to clarify topics related to fulfilling our agreement with Iran. I’m willing to inquire on our end whether we can put out feelers to the North Koreans, as you requested, Dr. Johnston, but not before we bring up the topic with Iran in a discussion by the monitoring team’s general assembly.”
“That seems like a legitimate point to me,” the chairman concurred. “I suggest, madam and gentlemen, that we take a break and reconvene in an hour for a meeting of the entire monitoring team.”
During the break in the discussions, Dr. Johnston consulted the British and French representatives. On the one hand, he thought the information conveyed by the head of IAEA’s Monitoring Division, if indeed verified, might serve the American president’s policy of finding justification to freeze the agreement with Iran. On the other hand, Johnston didn’t want to act rashly. He was convinced that the Iranian representative would be obliged to provide explanations but knew it would not be easy to back Iran into a corner.
Johnston was hesitant to suggest to his allies that they share the information with Israel. He was certain that they could make use of the special capabilities of Israel’s security agencies to obtain efficient and accurate information as in the past. Dr. Johnston’s connections with the Israeli Mossad had been maintained into the present, and he knew it was a good idea to update the Israelis even without asking them to intervene. He decided to raise the possibility of bringing Israel into the proceedings with the head of the National Security Council and the president in Washington.
Chapter 7
Nimer hardly slept a wink during the flights from Pyongyang in North Korea via Beijing to Beirut. The impression of the nuclear test resurfaced in his memory again and again. The respect bestowed upon him by the general in charge of technological development and his expressions of appreciation regarding Nimer’s contributions were also not the type of things he took for granted.
The humble office of Dr. Nimer Al-Khaldi was located on the faculty floor of the Exact Sciences Department at the University of Beirut. He had begun to call himself Nimer Al-Khaldi to commemorate the village of his birth. As an expression of esteem by the university for his qualifications, as well as of their hopes and expectations, Nimer had been deemed worthy of an office of his own.
Nimer had had no reason to complain about the path his life had taken until the brutal, catastrophic day of the Christian Phalanges’ massacre in the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila, in the suburbs of Beirut. He could not overcome the murder of his wife Laila and his older son and daughter. His younger son, Hassan, had survived thanks to the intelligence and determination of Nimer’s sister, Jamila, who lived with them at the refugee camp. She managed to escape the house with Hassan and hide until the massacre was over. Nimer was absolutely certain that the Israeli army was involved in the massacre and responsible for it. He was convinced that the massacre could not have taken place without Israel’s encouragement and support. The Americans and the French, also present in Lebanon with significant military forces, were to blame as well. With these thoughts in mind, Nimer looked forward to a meeting with Imad Mughniyeh, the charismatic military leader of the Hezbollah Organization, now a well-established entity.
It’s a good thing I found a way to meet Imad Mughniyeh. Thanks to him, I could take part in attacks targeting the French and American military forces in Lebanon. Thanks to Mughniyeh, I participated in the successful attack on the Israeli forces HQ in the city of Tyre10.
Nimer was certain that Mughniyeh would not just offer a formal expression of consolation for the loss he had suffered. He had faith in Mughniyeh’s ability to wield his influence and creativity in planning and executing successful terror attacks, and hoped for an offer from the military leader of Hezbollah to take part in new operations.
Mughniyeh entered the room and nearly shattered Nimer’s hand in a crushing handshake. “I can see on your face that you are still mourning. It’s perfectly fine and justified to grieve the murder of those dear to you, but we have to look forward and be ready to take action.”
Nimer nodded and reflected on how lucky he was to know Mughniyeh. In the short time in which he had been a member of the organization, he had seen Hezbollah’s military commander ruthlessly cut down those people who did not meet expectations. There were rumors that the commander did not hesitate to torture people to death.
“You’ve already seen, Commander, that I am willing to do
whatever you assign me to do…”
“The most important thing at this stage is recruiting good people, Nimer, people with technological knowledge. They have to be brave and determined and willing to sacrifice their lives as well, but the secret of our success depends on the technological capabilities that we’ll be using creatively.”
“So what should I do? Where do you see me fitting in?”
“At this stage, my friend, your place is in academia. Your reputation precedes you at the university as an exceptional lecturer, and we know how popular you are with the students. You are the best person to determine which of the students can be recruited to the organization. You will determine how to approach each of them.”
“But what about participating in the operations?”
“Easy now, Dr. Al-Khaldi. You’re no longer a young buck. The time for operations will come, but you have to establish your scientific and technological knowledge base for these future actions. They will be more sophisticated and effective than just using explosives. We’re aiming to send you for further postgraduate studies in Germany, at the University of Berlin, in the fields of Aeronautics and Nuclear Science.”
“And disengage from the University of Beirut? And part from my sister and my son?”
“Don’t worry about your family, Nimer. We’ll take care of your son and your sister and provide for all their needs. Naturally, we’ll ensure they’re not in any danger. As for the university here, they already know you’re leaving to conduct postdoctoral scientific research in Germany during the upcoming semester.”
Just like that? He tied up all the loose ends without me knowing a thing? Am I losing the ability to control the course of my life? Do I have to rely on his goodwill?
“There’s an Iranian scientist at the University of Berlin,” Mughniyeh continued. “His name is Dr. Jawad Arash, and he’s taken it upon himself to help you find your place within the university’s Faculty of Sciences. When you meet him, you will be won over by his knowledge level in the sciences, and the two of you can agree on an appropriate postgraduate curriculum for your studies.”
“This is all news to me, Commander, and I’m grateful for your intentions, which I’m sure are good. However, I have to talk to my sister, in our house at the Shatila refugee camp, before I embark on this route and tear myself away from everything I’m involved with here.”
“That’s fine,” Mughniyeh confirmed. “Talk to your sister and tell her about our support and the protection we will provide to set her mind at ease. I know that despite the time that has gone by, she, like many residents of the Sabra and Shatila camps, has yet to recover from the massacre.”
***
The spacious house that Nimer had constructed in the Shatila refugee camp had been renovated after the events of the massacre. Only the searing memory remained unchanged in Nimer’s mind.
“I’ve got some news, my sister, and it concerns my trip abroad…” Nimer said. “I am leaving for further studies. In fact, I’m starting a course of postdoctoral research at the University of Berlin. It will happen in a few weeks.”
“And what’s to become of us here?” Jamila fretted. “Who will watch over us? Who will take care of any problems that come up?”
“The members of Hezbollah Organization will take care of you, Jamila. They’re good people, and you will lack for nothing…”
“And you won’t be here to take care of us?”
Nimer bit his lip as his sister touched upon his greatest vulnerability. He blamed himself for not being home on the morning of the massacre, and for not preventing the murder of his family. Though he never admitted it, these feelings of guilt played an important role in the quest for revenge on which he was now embarking.
“The organization is strong enough, and they will keep an eye on everything that’s going on at the camp, and especially on what’s going on in and around the house. Don’t worry.”
“I am not criticizing your choice. After all, Father always encouraged you to keep studying, and Germany is a progressive country and a good place for higher education. But it’ll be hard for me without being able to know that you’re around and can arrive in a few minutes if necessary.”
“I promise you, Jamila, that the organization will always be here at your service. I’ll also come back here to visit from time to time. I will never abandon you.”
* * *
10In 1982 and 1983, two suicide bombings targeted IDF’s headquarters building in Tyre, Lebanon. The blasts killed 103 Israelis and 46–59 Lebanese, and wounded many more. Hezbollah is believed to be responsible for the attack.
Chapter 8
While Gideon was attending a meeting with the intelligence researchers in Nahari’s office, he found his thoughts wandering. He felt that he was chasing his own tail, unable to decide on a direction. He had given up on analyzing the multitude of data the intelligence crews had unloaded on him. A special team of three graduates of the elite Talpiot11 program from the Military Intelligence Directorate, the Mossad and the Shin Bet produced a report for him, but it had also not helped him come to any conclusions.
“I called this meeting,” Nahari said, “after not hearing any news from any agency that would make it clear to us what was really going on and who’s behind all these events, the last of which was the attack in Kiryat Shmona. We haven’t heard a statement claiming responsibility from any of the terrorist organizations familiar to us. Some of our people are attributing everything to the long arm of Iran. Are there signs confirming that? There’s truth to the claims that Iran is now obliged to be extra careful, especially on topics concerning the nuclear agreement with the six superpowers, in order not to subject itself to a restoration of the painful financial sanctions. This caution is probably in effect regarding other areas as well, such as strategic missiles and aiding other terrorist organizations. This week, I took part in some meetings with the heads of intelligence agencies from the United States, Britain, France and Germany, and most of the attention was focused on North Korea’s latest nuclear test. The head of the CIA claimed there was a quite substantial suspicion of Iranian participation in the test, which is estimated to be more powerful than its predecessors. I’ve updated the prime minister and the minister of defense about the contents of the Paris meeting, and they are classifying this issue as important and urgent to an almost unprecedented degree.”
“You need quite an imagination.” the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate (MID) dared to venture, “in order to link a terror attack – even with all the severity we attribute to it – to nuclear activity in North Korea. What’s the common denominator between the very long series of attacks? Why have we not been able to attribute any of them to any known terrorist entity?”
“How do you explain the speed of the preparations for those three mega-attacks?” Gideon queried. “Is it all based on Mughniyeh’s charismatic leadership? And how, from one moment to the next, did they develop such smart technical systems?”
“We don’t have a good answer for that, and this is a challenge we have to deal with, and a mystery we have to solve.”
The head of the Research Division continued to survey the prominent points of recent major terrorist attacks. Imad Mughniyeh, he noted, was proving to be a source of fascination for the team, inducing them to assemble rich, diverse information about the man and his activity. This information exposed Mughniyeh’s role in initiating terrorist activity, beginning with the strategy of using rockets as the next Hezbollah threat against Israel, and culminating in his somewhat inexplicable connections with Saddam Hussein during the eight-year war between Iraq and Iran. In these areas, much importance was attributed to the weapons-system technologies of rockets and missiles whose sources remained unclear.
“Based on everything you’ve said so far,” the head of MID addressed him, “it’s still unclear—how does it all relate to Iran? What’s with this flip-flopping
by Mughniyeh, from Lebanon and Hezbollah’s battle against Israel, to Iraq and its war against Iran? What was he actually doing in Iraq? And how and when did this love affair between Hezbollah and Iran start to flourish?”
“That’s an interesting chain of events, sir, and you’re right to raise questions. Our analysis tends to attribute a lot of weight to high-trajectory weapons, primarily long-range missiles. While fighting its war on Iran, Iraq desperately needed missiles with the ability to reach Teheran. Mughniyeh, who has a finger in every pie, was, along with the small crew working by his side, the link facilitating the aid to Iraq. Their goal was to convert the Russian Scud-B missiles so that they could reach a range of over 300 miles. Saddam Hussein would have been willing to sign a deal with the devil in order to win the war he had declared against the Ayatollah Khomeini. As you know,” the head of the division added, “in return for a fortune paid by Saddam Hussein, Imad Mughniyeh managed to recruit Dr. Gerald Bull, the Canadian aeronautical engineer, to help the Iraqis.”
“And how did all this end up on the Iranians’ doorstep?” the head of MID persisted.
“The common thread linking all the events taking place in the region during these years has to do with missile technology. Iran swooped into the effort to develop long-range missiles and rockets as one of the consequences of its eight-year war against Iraq. We also identified signs of Mughniyeh’s involvement in the technological aid provided for the development of the Iranian missiles. And let’s not forget the Shiite Hezbollah’s religious affiliation with Iran, its supportive ally. In return for massive sums of money, Dr. Bull was prepared to share his knowledge with anyone who wanted it. But this development was also based on missile technology sold by North Korea. In the years after its humiliating defeat, Iran was willing to pay a fortune in order to close the gap between it and Iraq.”