by Uzi Eilam
“We’re having problems with the airport security personnel here in Cologne,” reported the SEAL commander over Deutsch’s secure phone. “They appear to not have received instructions from above. We’re next to our plane, and we can’t advance toward the Iranians’ plane, although we have eye contact.”
“I’ll take care of it immediately,” Deutsch promised.
Next came the commander of the French force, this time on Bernard’s line. “We have a problem.”
“Merde! What’s going on!?” growled Bernard.
“The Ryanair plane took off twenty minutes ago. We weren’t able to stop it.”
Feverish communication commenced with German security officials, and, to his consternation, Deutsch discovered that there had been a glitch in the instructions issued to the airport in Cologne. The commander of the SEAL force reported that the plane, which had been loaded with its cargo, was already taxiing to the runway. Gideon then checked with Dan only to find that the Iranians had pushed up the takeoff times from both airports.
“Bernard,” Gideon said with a grave expression. “We need to get things moving for Portugal at once. Deutsch needs to order the SEALs to get in the air immediately and to head for Portela Airport. The gendarmerie force also needs to take off for Portugal at once—there’s nothing they can do in Beauvais now.”
“I’m afraid you’re right,” replied Bernard. “We’ll fly to Portugal too. It’s a good thing we have a backup plan, but every minute’s crucial now.”
By the time Bernard and the team supervising the operation arrived, the executive plane that had been placed at Bernard’s disposal had already warmed up its engines. Dan joined the team onboard, as did two liaison officers, one from the gendarmerie unit and one from the SEALs. After takeoff, Bernard radioed the director at Lisbon Portela Airport, who had also been informed of the operation, and asked him to delay the landing of both planes. The director promised to do so in a manner that would not raise any suspicion.
Moments after landing in Portugal, the team, led by Bernard, was driven to the airport’s operations room where they set up headquarters. Communications were quickly established with the commanders of the two forces, which had already taken up positions in warehouses near the two planes’ planned parking area. The planes were then authorized to land and, now that everything seemed to be in order, Bernard, Gideon, and Deutsch finally allowed themselves a momentary sense of relief. The airport director joined them in the operations room, and Bernard was reassured by the presence of someone who could help them deal with unexpected developments.
“I recorded a conversation with the deputy director of the airport,” Dan announced. “He has informed the Iranian embassy in Paris that the planes have landed and that everything is proceeding according to plan.”
“Isn’t it about time you arrested your man?” Bernard said to the director, in a tone that sounded more like an assertion than a question.
“That’s precisely what I’m about to do, Professor Bernard.”
Updates from the commando teams came in quickly now.
“We’re making our way to the German plane,” reported the commander of the American commando force.
“We’re surrounding the Ryanair plane,” the gendarmerie commander informed them.
Now the voice of the commander of the secondary French force could be heard over the speaker. “We’re moving toward the Ryanair plane, but it seems to be warming up its engines and getting ready to take off.”
“We’ve taken the German plane,” the American commander reported. “Everything’s under control.”
“We’ve taken the Ryanair plane,” the French commander said. “We’re checking the contents of the cargo hold. Everything’s in order.”
“Professor Bernard,” the airport director interjected. “I’ve just been informed that my deputy, who cooperated with the Iranians, has been arrested and that my security unit is starting to interrogate him. Would you like to have one of your people take part in the interrogation?”
“Yes, I would,” said Bernard. “Dr. Deutsch and Mr. Avni would be pleased to work with your men. And please make sure that everything is translated into English for them. Oh, and another thing. It would be a great help if your people could help us transfer the contents of the cargo holds of the seized planes to our cargo holds.”
During the brief concluding meeting, which was attended by some of the commanders of the French and American forces, the Portuguese airport director, and the airport’s director of security, Professor Bernard offered words of gratitude to the airport management. “Without your cooperation, Monsieur Directeur, the forces of evil would have succeeded in their efforts.”
“It’s been a privilege, Professor Bernard,” replied the director. “The war against terrorism is also the key to the prosperity and success of international aviation. It’s therefore in our own best interests that the war be successful.”
Bernard also thanked the commando force commanders for the high level of professionalism they had demonstrated under such challenging conditions. After all, he said, “one cannot argue with success.” He also had warm words for the members of the task force that had worked with him on supervising the operation, but he saved them for the meeting in Paris in which they would evaluate the operation and identify lessons to be learned for the future.
Chapter 31
Haim received a royal welcome at Zürich Airport. An aide to the army chief of staff, with the rank of colonel, and two other officers awaited him at the exit of the jet bridge and escorted him directly to a military vehicle, which was driven by a young soldier in the midst of his compulsory service.
“It’s an honor for us to host such an important commander in the Israeli military,” said the Swiss deputy chief of staff, introducing Haim to the chief of staff. “Tomorrow, General Bar-Oz will devote the entire day to addressing our General Staff’s Instruction Forum on antiterrorism training for our special forces.”
“We appreciate your willingness to share your experience with us, General Bar-Oz,” said the chief of staff. “It will be another link in the long chain of good relations between our countries.”
“Thank you, sir,” Haim said with sincerity. He felt relieved by the sudden absence of Professor Bernard’s supervision and the fact that there, in Switzerland, he was no longer in Gideon’s shadow. Now it was he who was center stage.
“General Bar-Oz can teach us not only from his combat experience but also from his extensive knowledge of intelligence on terrorist groups and their methods of operation. He is an officer who has mastered both the book and the sword. Bar-Oz holds a degree in electronic engineering from Tel Aviv University, which is a highly regarded Israeli academic institution, and his training in engineering complements his diverse combat experience and his vast knowledge of intelligence information. All in one person. Impressive, isn’t it?”
“Exceptional,” the chief of staff said. “Thank you, General, for agreeing to share your knowledge with our senior commanders. I’m certain that they’ll learn everything you have to teach them.”
“As I’m sure you know,” Haim began, deciding to take advantage of the cordial atmosphere, “I’m also here in another capacity.”
“Am I correct in assuming that you are referring to your efforts to prevent the movement of funds by terrorist organizations?” asked the chief of staff.
“Yes. I’m a member of a task force that’s tracking the financial activities of terrorist organizations. We have a meeting on the issue the day after tomorrow, and we are hoping for effective cooperation with your Department of Finance.”
“It’s an important issue. We’ll assist you however we can.”
The deputy chief of staff escorted Haim to his hotel and, with characteristically Swiss attention to detail, gave him precise information about the next day’s schedule. Adrenaline pulsed through Haim’s veins as he s
at down to go over the material for the lectures he had prepared. He decided to make some changes based on some of the things the deputy chief of staff had told him in their conversations. But first, he took a deep breath and relished the exhilarating feeling of being at the center of attention and his own master. He worked late into the night, and only then allowed himself to sleep. In the moments before he drifted off into a peaceful slumber, his thoughts went to Dominique, who was scheduled to arrive in Zürich the following evening.
The officers of the General Staff were waiting silently when the Swiss deputy chief of staff and Haim entered the lecture hall. A number of civilians were also in the audience, and Haim’s escort quietly explained to him that these were employees of the Federal Department of Defense who had asked to attend the lecture. Haim began by presenting background information on the development of terrorist groups and their movements around the globe, weaving in examples of the ways Israel had dealt with terrorism. The large audience listened intently but asked no spontaneous questions. Haim marveled silently at how different the Swiss officers were from Israeli officers in this way. Only at the coffee break did a few officers approach him with questions, which helped him fine tune the rest of his lecture by addressing a number of additional relevant points.
Haim spent the afternoon visiting the base of the Swiss army’s antiterrorist unit, which was situated about an hour’s drive from Zürich. The deputy chief of staff accompanied him on the visit and continued to heap praise on him when he introduced him to the commanders of the unit. These were a group of career military men who appeared to be true soldiers. Haim was impressed by their presentation of their training programs and by the nature of the exercises conducted by the unit. For Haim, it was clear that he needed to emphasize the dynamic nature of terrorist activity and the importance of greater flexibility when preparing to challenge it. He illustrated the principles he presented using examples from his extensive antiterrorist warfare experience in the Israel Defense Forces. On the way back to his hotel in Zürich, Haim was treated to the flattering accolades of the Swiss deputy chief of staff, which left him in particularly high spirits.
When he picked up his room key at the front desk, he was also given a note from Dominique. She and O’Connor had already checked in and wanted to meet with him to plan for their meetings the following day. Bursting with anticipation, Haim immediately phoned Dominique’s room and agreed to meet her in the lobby in an hour’s time.
“General Bar-Oz! It’s good to see you!” O’Connor said, with a smile. “How were your meetings with the soldiers? Was it hard work? Was it worth the effort?”
“Yes, I think it was.” Haim was somewhat distracted, his eyes pinned to the elevator door. “It was a jam-packed day, but very interesting and, in my opinion, quite successful.”
“What was successful?” asked Dominique, who had just joined Haim and O’Connor and had only heard the tail end of Haim’s report.
“Hi, Dominique!” Haim’s serious expression transformed into a beaming smile. “I was just telling John about my day. In the morning, I gave a few lectures for the Swiss General Staff, and in the afternoon I visited a base of their special antiterrorism unit. It taught me quite a bit about their methods of operation.”
“And did anything come up that had to with our particular area of interest?”
“Sure. During my introductory meeting with the Swiss chief of staff, I mentioned the work of the task force and the supervision of Iranian funds. The chief of staff assured me that he would assist us if the need arose. He enjoys status and influence within the government, and his support is important.”
“Sounds good, Haim,” Dominique replied. “Now, let’s think about what we want to accomplish tomorrow.”
Dominique, Haim, and O’Connor spent the next hour discussing the information they thought the Swiss should be expected to provide regarding the cessation of Iranian procurement transfers. They clearly would not be given information regarding all financial transactions, but they thought it would be important to get an impression of the level of effort the Swiss were making. It was decided that O’Connor, as the head of the monitoring team, would begin the dialogue by defining their professional and financial requirements. After the meeting, O’Connor went up to his room, and Haim and Dominique stayed in the lobby.
“I’m happy to hear that your day was so successful,” Dominique said.
“Thank you, Dominique, but the day isn’t over yet. Can I interest you in coffee later, or perhaps dinner? This time it’s my treat.”
“I can’t tonight, Haim. I have a meeting with the director-general of the Swiss Finance Ministry. Could we make it tomorrow?”
“If that’s what the gods decree, then so be it!” Haim tried to conceal his disappointment while, at the same time, wondering why she was meeting with the Swiss official.
Dominique took the elevator up to her room, leaving Haim to find solace in a tall beer at the hotel bar. Actually, she thought, she could have taken him up on his offer. It was consistent with General de Villiers’ directive to get close to the Israelis in order to acquire information. At the moment, however, she felt it would be better to wait until after the next day’s meeting. It did not appear that Bar-Oz’s enthusiasm would subside any time soon, and she was sure he would be just as interested tomorrow. She deserved some rest, she told herself, far from the lustful advances of General de Villiers.
***
Their meeting with the representatives of the Swiss Department of Finance began pleasantly enough, with polite introductions and pleasantries from both sides of the table. The atmosphere changed abruptly, however, when O’Connor began asking more focused questions and requesting details about what had been done to stop the transfer of Iranian funds.
“We are making efforts to locate the Iranian funds, but so far we have found no evidence of them,” insisted the department’s director-general.
“That’s simply unacceptable,” replied O’Connor tersely. “At our last meeting, we gave you details of problematic Iranian financial activities in your banks.”
“We checked that information,” the director-general told him, “and we’ve received the explicit assurances of our leading banks, along with their official declarations, that there is currently no movement of Iranian funds.”
“If you please, Mister Director-General, I would like to read out the text of a communiqué between Union Bank of Switzerland and the Iranian embassy in your country.” Haim produced a file of papers, which Dan had prepared for the team’s meetings, to be used under precisely such circumstances. As he began reading the dialogue, the director-general’s face reddened with anger and the other Department of Finance personnel looked down in embarrassment. Haim’s actions also surprised O’Connor and Dominique, but they regained their composure quickly.
O’Connor once again took the lead, describing the banks’ incorporation into the supervision process as a positive development. Dominique assured the Swiss bankers that she was certain the Swiss Department of Finance could be trusted and pointed out that she also believed that the banks were trying to lead the Swiss government astray, largely to preserve their own profits. The discussion returned to its previous relaxed, polite style, and its conclusions further bolstered the agreements that had been reached during the previous meeting.
“They were completely caught off guard,” Dominique commented, when the three were left alone at the end of the meeting. “You clearly have a good understanding of how and when to use the element of surprise on the battlefield, mon général. I think we’ve learned here that it’s applicable to all battlefields.”
“Indeed.” O’Connor nodded. “Can I assume, Haim, that was information provided by Dan Avni?”
“Yes, but Gideon asked me not to share it in order to avoid exposing our sources. They asked me to use it only if there was a critical need to do so. I thought that there was.”
�
��Of course there was. Thanks,” said O’Connor. “Listen, I’m exhausted. I’m going to head back to my room.”
“So, are we on for tonight?” Haim asked Dominique after O’Connor had entered the elevator and the doors had closed.
“Sure. But I’m buying.”
“I think can live with that,” said Haim with a smile.
Brasserie Lipp, the French restaurant chosen by Dominique, was located on Uraniastrasse, in the heart of Zürich. Haim’s eyes widened as they entered the restaurant and soaked in its unique atmosphere, with its soft lighting and pure white tablecloths.
“They have excellent French cuisine here. I thought it would suit the occasion,” said Dominique.
He had already had an opportunity to get better acquainted with French food with Gideon, but there was no reason to mention that now. Tonight, he thought with conviction, will be for just the two of us: me and Dominique.
“That sounds wonderful, Dominique,” Haim said, visibly pleased. “Lead the way.”
“I have never, in my entire life, tasted such a dish,” he found himself saying, a few minutes later, as he struggled with a pot of oysters in white wine and butter sauce.
“Life is full of surprises, Haim. All you have to do is reach out and embrace them.”
“Perhaps, but that’s typically much easier for people with money in the bank.”
“Surprises can also occur in the financial realm,” Dominique said with a mischievous smile.
“You’re quite a surprise yourself,” Haim said, swept up in the moment. “And so is this meal. You certainly have opened my eyes tonight, Dominique. And I’m grateful.”