by Uzi Eilam
“And what do you think we should do with this information?”
“There is another interesting item of information, Nahari, which is that when Nimer is in his home at the Shatila refugee camp, security at the house is relatively lax. The guards posted there have a degree of freedom, which is exactly what opens the door to us.”
“That’s interesting and important, Gideon. Please get an idea of what’s cooking on our end, and see how it fits in with the information you just mentioned. Our Naval Commando unit has been training for a few weeks now for an abduction or elimination operation. The moment we call them in, they’re ready to land on the beach not far from the refugee camp and carry out the mission.”
“And what is my role?” Gideon did not try to hide his surprise. “After all, no one knows Nimer better than me. He might slip away from them with his famous evasion skills…”
“The Navy claims that every aspect of the mission has been planned, including early reconnaissance in Shatila refugee camp. Their people have gotten settled in a safe house at the camp, not far from Nimer’s house, with a sightline to it. The commando unit’s mission is to bring in Nimer alive; we have many questions to ask him.”
“And what do you expect from us?” Gideon had yet to calm down.
“First of all, Gideon, Dan and his team have to give us information on Nimer’s movements, and to assess when he will arrive in Beirut.”
“Okay, that’s obvious, Nahari, but what is required from us during the operation itself? Dan and his Talpiot team know more about Nimer’s tactics than anyone else.”
“That’s true. That’s why we thought that you should be aboard the Navy’s missile ship, providing backup for the Naval Commando’s surveillance and reconnaissance. It’s vital to track the communications of Hezbollah’s military arm, and I believe that’s a very important task that suits you well.”
“You’re the boss,” Gideon responded unenthusiastically. “We will do our best.”
***
Gideon returned to Dan’s “war room” and shared Nahari’s decisions. Once again, he emphasized the importance of tracking Nimer’s movements, primarily the timing of his next visit to Beirut. The team prepared for focused monitoring of Nimer’s calls, and found out that within a day, he was about to finish his mission in Pyongyang and would fly straight to Beirut before returning to Teheran for a meeting with Soleimani. The die has been cast, Gideon thought when reporting this latest information to Nahari. The Naval Commando mission to abduct Nimer is on its way. Soon, the Navy’s logistics personnel got in touch with Gideon, and helped in transporting the surveillance and decryption equipment to the missile ship designated as the command ship. Even before the ship had left the port, the system was active and providing information. The Navy’s commando fighters were already on board their ship, well on its way toward the landing beach marked for the commando’s combat force.
***
“What’s happening on the networks, Dan?” Gideon asked after the briefing conducted by the squadron commander heading the operation. One wall of the ship’s communication room was dedicated to the system Dan and his team had deployed, and Gideon was happy to see them working with no limitations imposed upon them.
“Nothing unusual, Gideon, and we do not hear any irregular traffic on Hezbollah’s operations network. But the commando force hasn’t landed yet, and the mission’s just begun.”
“Are you also monitoring the observation post network? Did you do a comm check?”
“Yes, Gideon, a comm check was carried out and we have the code words the commando force is using and codes for the observation post monitoring the house.”
A tense quiet spread over the command room, the only sound heard was the buzz of the instruments echoing within its space. The squadron commander, a short, muscular man, imbued the command room with a relaxed atmosphere, as if the operation were an everyday occurrence.
“The OP has announced that Nimer has left the house… Apparently, Hassan, his son, is also with him…” Dan reported, coming up to the command room. “No reference to it on Hezbollah’s operational network. They might have just stepped out for a breath of fresh air.”
“Let’s give them time,” the commander responded, “and update the commando force only if they don’t return home soon.”
“It’s too bad we didn’t bring the ‘wasps,’” Gideon whispered to Dan. “This is exactly the type of situation where we they would be of vital help.”
“True,” Dan whispered. “But they kept emphasizing to us that this was the Navy’s operation…”
Time seemed to stand still within the ship’s command room. Occasionally, one of the force’s brief code words rang out, indicating that they were approaching the refugee camp. Dan and the Talpiot team stuck close to the force commander’s two-way radio, through which they could hear the whispered commands.
“Contact! We’re dealing with an ambush…” The force commander’s announcement echoed through the command room. The operation commander knew that he had to allow the force to conduct the skirmish, merely relaying an instruction to the backup force waiting in the landing area to prepare to mobilize and offer assistance.
“Nimer and the son returned home a few minutes ago and left again with Nimer’s sister. Apparently, they received information that led them to evacuate the house…” Dan intercepted a message from the observation post.
“We’ve eliminated the ambush,” the force commander’s voice rang out. “I’ve got two wounded men…”
“The rescue force is on its way to you,” the operation commander informed him in a quiet voice. “Be alert to the possible appearance of additional Hezbollah forces.”
“Roger. Over and out.”
The rescue force arrived quickly and assisted in carrying the two stretchers. Dan reported a large amount of traffic on Hezbollah’s operational network. Among other communications, they intercepted a laconic message instructing Nimer to evacuate the house without specifying why. Twenty tense minutes ended when the rubber speedboats waiting at the landing beach reached the ship, carrying the force and the wounded soldiers. The squadron’s doctor began examining and treating the injured men, and the commando force commander went up to the control room, describing the chain of events and the unexpected skirmish.
“Our most urgent mission,” the operation commander told Gideon, “is to get the injured soldiers to the hospital in Haifa as soon as possible. We’ll conduct an inquiry and draw conclusions first thing tomorrow morning. It’s already been coordinated with the head of the corps and with Nahari,” he added.
“Now is not the time to say ‘I told you so,’” Gideon whispered to Dan. “We have to try and figure out if the Hezbollah stakeout near the Shatila camp was something ongoing that we did not know about, or whether it was set up after they discovered the main points of our plan through surveillance. In any case, Nimer is free again, and might be even more determined to carry out attacks.”
Chapter 40
Gideon and Dan resumed their routine after the failed abduction of Nimer from his home. Their conclusion, also brought up during the in-depth inquiry conducted at Navy Headquarters, was that in order to trap or eliminate Nimer, creative, unconventional thinking would have to be employed.
“Based on what we’ve seen in their communications in the last twenty-four hours,” Eviatar from the Mossad reported, “Nimer continues to be active, as if he could not care less about the entire abduction attempt.”
“What is he doing?” Gideon inquired. “Wasn’t he supposed to go to Teheran?”
“He was indeed,” Eviatar replied, “but we have not seen any evidence that he’s been active at the enrichment plant in Natanz. This morning,” he added, “I saw an important item of information on my screen from Soleimani’s bureau. It concerns an inquiry that he wants to conduct with Nimer when he returns to Teheran after his short stay in B
eirut.”
“What can we conclude from all these fragments?”
“I have an idea,” Noam called out, pausing briefly to look around the room. “The meeting in Vietnam did not achieve its goals, and Nimer was left with unresolved questions about defending against tunnel detection. Soleimani has committed to helping Hezbollah and Hamas. What could be more practical than going straight to the source? The Revolutionary Guard’s commander recruited Dr. Qadeer Khan to solve some problem in North Korea’s uranium enrichment facility, while sending Nimer to help them with the warheads for their long-range missiles, a topic that Nimer has dealt with before while visiting North Korea…”
“And what do they get in return?” Gideon could not hold back.
“What they get in return probably relates to the secret of the tunnels, which will be conveyed to the Iranians through Nimer,” Noam decreed confidently.
“And that’s probably what Soleimani wants to be updated on when Nimer returns to Teheran,” Dan continued Noam’s line of thought, receiving nods of agreement from the three members of the Talpiot team.
“I could accept that explanation,” Gideon said, “but of course, we need to receive reinforcement from further surveillance. Even then, Dan, we’re still left to deal with Nimer’s elusiveness, and the way that he constantly manages to catch us by surprise. Do we have any new tools or smart algorithms to handle him using Big Data techniques?”
“We’re working on it constantly, and we’re receiving full cooperation from intelligence personnel at the American Embassy. Dr. Deutsch, who’s been facilitating the process, can testify to that.” Dan turned to look at the American, who nodded.
“We have to be in touch constantly when it comes to Nimer,” Gideon claimed, not wanting to express what he truly felt in regard to his childhood friend. “Just the way we did when it came to Mughniyeh. This is our top priority, Dan, and I hope you can achieve it.”
“Based on everything I’ve heard so far,” Noam commented, “Nimer’s stock of identities is limited…”
“How many does he have?” Gideon challenged.
“He is alternately Palestinian, Lebanese, Iranian and German, with a few secondary identities. The German identity is based on his professional history in Germany, and his fluency in German.”
“If that is true,” Gideon said, “it would be simpler to locate Nimer when he comes to Germany on one of his missions. If we know it in time, we can intercept him in an environment that’s convenient for us.”
***
Gideon was sitting in his office, trying to reconstruct everything that had been said in the meeting with Dan’s team. He had a feeling that he was heading toward a meeting with Nimer, although there had been nothing in the briefing to justify this feeling. A soft knock on the door extracted him from the deluge of memories that had washed over him.
“Dad, I’ve got a few things to say to you,” Noam said, sitting down across from him.
“I’m listening, Nono.” Gideon was glad to return to the world of here and now.
“What do you intend to do if Nimer really is exposed during his stay in Germany? Do you think the two of you can just meet, shake hands, and he’ll fall into your arms like a long-lost brother?”
“No, my dear, I’m not that deluded, and I still don’t have a logical idea on how to deter Nimer from continuing his current quest.”
“I talked to Mom yesterday, and she told me again that you have to be careful,” Noam surprised him. “She knows you better than you know yourself…”
“That might be true, Noam. She always spoke her truth, but didn’t hide her love, either…”
“Okay, I won’t bug you too much, but please take Mom’s intuitions seriously. Don’t turn back into the hero from the Paratrooper Brigade…”
Noam exited, leaving Gideon with a barrage of mixed emotions. Her direct, open approach sent him back to regions of the past that he usually avoided. It was hard for him to admit, even to himself, that his childhood connection with Nimer was having an effect on his thought processes, although he was the leader of the campaign against the talented, determined terrorist. A thundering knock on the door pulled him away from the thoughts that Noam had left him to debate. Eviatar from the Mossad entered the office, his expression excited.
“We’ve managed to resolve a complex obstacle introduced by North Korean cyberwarfare, and at least for the near future, we’re in the picture once again. Dan asked to urgently update you that we have intercepted an intention by Nimer, now going by Dr. Golfgang Kuntz, to take part in a scientific conference at the Free University of Berlin.”
“I’m going to update Nahari, and please ask Dan to join me.”
When Nahari heard Gideon, his response was reserved.
“This is an operation in a friendly country, Gideon. If something goes off track, we’ll be in trouble with Germany, and will be putting a good, important relationship at risk. This also cannot be a solo operation by you,” Nahari warned. “We have to set up a rescue team stationed close to the university that can pitch in when necessary,”
“Right, certainly, Nahari. In addition, I hoped that Dan would be around, providing me with ongoing information. He could join the rescue team you mentioned.”
“I’m leaning toward approving your plan, but I have to give some more thought to the big picture.”
“Our problem, Nahari, is the timeline. Nimer is apparently already on his way to Germany, and we have to get going.”
“Okay, Gideon, you start the preparations, and I’ll let you know of my decision by this evening.”
Gideon dedicated an entire day to preparations prior to Nahari’s authorization to leave for the conference in Berlin. Nahari’s people assigned him the identity of a French scientist, Dr. Jay Bernard, who specialized in aeronautics and systems analysis, a graduate of École Polytechnique, an institution of higher education in the field of engineering. The image specialists explained that it was important to rely on real-life components when constructing an identity. Gideon’s fluency in French, acquired when he was a student at the Technion Institute of Technology, served as an excellent starting point for them. Dr. Bernard was supposed to take part in a roundtable discussion dealing with “The Future of Artificial Intelligence.” Furthermore, Nahari’s people in Berlin reported that their safe house adjacent to the campus was now ready for them,. In the meantime, Dan prepared all the electronic equipment that he and the team would use to monitor the proceedings at the conference from up close.
***
Nimer woke up in his room at the modest hotel located a short distance from the university to the sound of a knock on the door.
“I’m sorry to bother you, Dr. Golfgang,” the security guard from the Iranian Embassy said, “but I was asked to give you an urgent message…”
“That’s okay,” Nimer soothed him. “I have to leave for the conference soon anyway. What’s the message?”
“It’s just a few lines that only you can decipher. Here’s an envelope from the communication people at the embassy.”
“Hold on a minute, sir. Let’s see what we’ve got here…”
Nimer extracted the page and took out the little notepad that was always on his person, containing an emergency code for unexpected circumstances. “Dr. Ben Ari is coming to the conference,” Nimer read, his heart pounding. “He’s assuming the identity of a French scientist named Dr. Jay Bernard. For your consideration.”
“Wait for me in the lobby,” Nimer ordered. “We’ll drive to the conference, but it looks like I won’t be staying for very long…”
Nimer tried to occupy himself with organizing the conference paperwork and skimming the schedule, but his mind kept returning to the Revolutionary Guard’s warning.
How is Gideon managing to find out where I am so quickly? Why don’t I have sufficient protection? What’s going on with the Guard’s cyber-gen
iuses, who purchased the knowledge packet from North Korea?
Nimer missed the days when Imad Mughniyeh was still alive. He would know how to analyze the situation, no matter how complex, and give wise advice, he thought.
While I am wary of Gideon Ben Ari’s abilities, and of the danger of meeting him, I do want to meet him; it is more than mere curiosity. What is stronger? The risk of the meeting? The satisfaction of closing that multi-year gap?
Nimer took his briefcase, and on second thought, picked up the small suitcase in which he had packed all his possessions as well, and stepped out to the waiting car.
***
“Has Dr. Golfgang Kuntz registered yet?” Gideon asked the hostess who was preparing his participant badge for him.
“Yes, a few minutes ago,” the young woman answered. “The opening speech is already starting, Dr. Bernard. You should go to the lecture hall.”
The university president had already begun his greetings to the attendees when Gideon found an open seat. He listened to the president while simultaneously scanning the audience. Nimer was in the lecture hall, but how did he look today? I remember his photos from the ship in Vietnam; it has to be something like that. Hold on! The blond man in the third row on the left? Yes, it’s Nimer, without a doubt!
Gideon tried to spot people connected to Nimer, perhaps bodyguards surrounding him, but did not see anyone. I have a sightline on the subject, he messaged Dan. Dan confirmed that security guards from the Iranian Embassy in Berlin were waiting outside. The president’s speech ended, and the conference’s chairman took the stage, focusing on the primary conference message. Gideon exchanged whispers with his neighbor, trading business cards in accordance with the usual custom. The chairman’s speech dragged on, and Gideon scanned the hall once again, his gaze returning to the place where Nimer had been sitting. He was no longer there!
“Dan! Nimer’s left his seat . . . He’s not in the lecture hall anymore! I’m leaving the conference and heading your way…”