‘They need help. Only a hospital can handle this number of people,’ Abramsky Riad said. An articulate, senior consultant at the hospital in Rehovot and widely respected, he did not know what he was examining. With just a face mask and gloves, he probed a sore on one of the victims.
‘Get back! It’s smallpox.’
‘Rubbish! Smallpox was eradicated decades ago,’ Riad shouted, not used to having his medical examinations interrupted, and certainly not by someone with an American accent dressed in a strange-looking suit with its own personal breathing apparatus.
‘I am confirming that it is smallpox. It is also one hundred percent fatal. There is nothing you can do here, and no one can be removed from this town, not for at least fourteen days.’
‘What are you saying? Who are you to tell me what I can or cannot do?’
‘I have the full authority of your government,’ his mobile phone on speed dial to update his colleagues of the situation. He knew what had to be done.
‘Uri, it’s smallpox. Please take what actions are necessary.’
‘Our worst fears are realised?’
‘I have no doubt about my diagnosis. The community is to be isolated immediately, including the medical personnel that is already here. It appears that the primary source is probably an automatic air freshener in one of the synagogues. We need to find out who installed it – probably a Palestinian or Israeli Arab, which means he will have taken the infection with him.’
‘I’ll find out, and then we need to isolate him and his community. This is going to get messy, no doubt violent.’
The Israeli government, as well as the military’s Commander in Chief, primed in confidence at a cabinet meeting two weeks previously, acted with all due haste. Years of retaliating to incursions and missiles from the Gaza Strip meant that there was a professional and battle-ready Army available.
***
Uri was quickly on the phone to the person primed for such a situation. ‘Major General Herzog, smallpox has been confirmed in Modi’in Illit, at least thirty-five to fifty-five first generation infections. An exclusion zone needs to be set up at five kilometres.’
‘We will commence operations within thirty minutes, at the site within sixty,’ the Major General replied.
In her fifties, her family had come to the country while she was a babe in arms. A career soldier, she had come up through the ranks mainly due to her exceptional organisational skills, her recognised tactical ability and, in part, due to an egalitarian society that rewarded people for their ability, not their gender.
It was Major General Herzog, who had orchestrated the rescue of five soldiers who had wandered too close to the Gaza Strip one night and had been grabbed. There had been three months in intolerable conditions with YouTube videos showing them with guns to the head, knives to the throat and forced to make proclamations on behalf of their captors. They were close to the limit of their endurance. The Major General had led a crack team of Special Forces straight to the kidnappers’ lair, killing six of them on the way in and another nine on the way out. The five soldiers were rescued. None of her team received more than a minor scratch. She received the Medal of Valour, Israel’s highest military decoration, in a moving ceremony at which the President of Israel pinned the medal to her uniform.
Paul Montgomery sensing that there was no more to be done exited the community within thirty minutes of his arrival. He had taken a swab from one of the infected for laboratory analysis, but he felt that it was a mere formality and not really necessary.
Within a matter of hours the doctor who had disputed the diagnosis with Paul Montgomery felt the need to move some of the ill to his hospital. He drove to the edge of town expecting a rapid transit. He had two ambulances and eight infected patients with him.
‘I need to take these patients to the hospital in Rehovot. They need specialist treatment,’ Abramsky Riad shouted at the young soldier who guarded the hastily erected metal barrier positioned across the only exit route from the town. He wore the uniform of a private in the Israeli Army.
‘I have my orders,’ the young soldier replied. ‘You cannot pass.’
‘These are Israeli citizens. They cannot be denied medical help. What is your name? I am going to report you for this.’
‘I am Private Emil Racheli, acting under the command of Major General Herzog.’
‘I will ensure that you are duly reported. I am going to get in the ambulance and drive forward to my hospital. If you wish to stop me, then you will be obliged to shoot. Is that clear?’
‘I suggest that you talk to my Sergeant. He will be here soon. My instructions are to allow no one to progress further on this road. Any attempt is to be repelled by force if necessary.’
A seasoned soldier, Racheli’s immediate superior approached the barrier. He was a stocky man, balding with barely any neck. He kept his right-hand firmly attached to the pistol in a holster on his belt.
‘Hillel ve-Shamai Boulevard is closed with immediate effect,’ Sergeant Zibel reiterated Racheli’s statement. ‘I suggest you return to the city and find a suitable place for your patients. Medical facilities will be sent in shortly.’
Faced with a rifle pointed at him, Riad reluctantly returned to a hall located next to the synagogue.
The incident at the barrier reinforced in the mind of some in the community that the denial to allow the doctor’s transit was not medical, but prejudice against a minority grouping who practised a purer form of Judaism.
***
‘We cannot stay here,’ said Shlomo Razel, one of the founding members of the city, and one of the most fervent followers of the extreme aspects of the Haredi sect. He did not want to even communicate with the conservative Jews in Israel, let alone give credence to the possibility of any compromise deal with the Arab Muslims. ‘It is because we are Haredi. They want to get rid of us. I do not trust even those who claim to be fellow citizens of this country.’
For the first week, little attention was given to him in the community, but as the food supplies reduced and the promised assistance was not forthcoming, he started to attain a credible following.
‘Can’t you see?’ he said. ‘They are going to isolate us, let us die. How many have died now? At least fifty, and there must be another five to six hundred who are now ill. It will only be a few months before we are all dead. We must break out, by force if necessary.’
Located just inside the West Bank, only a few kilometres from Israel proper, there was effectively only one road in and out, Hillel ve-Shamai Boulevard where Doctor Riad and Private Racheli had clashed. Riad was now one of the second generation infected and destined to die while those he had been carrying in the ambulance had already succumbed. Private Racheli and his Sergeant had on instructions, wisely kept their distance and were infection-free.
A perimeter set at five kilometres encircled the town. Barbed wire fencing, helicopter patrols night and day, and four thousand troops ensured compliance.
It was at 6 p.m. on the fifteenth night since the infection was identified, that Shlomo Razel and over one thousand of his fellow citizens drove to the army barricade.
‘We demand to be released. We have our rights as citizens of this country,’ they chanted. It went on for three hours with them testing the barricades, attempting to move them, but to no avail. The bulk of the army kept a distance of two hundred metres while those closest to the protestors, those that may have to apply physical restraint, were enclosed in biological warfare protective gear, military grade.
‘This is Major General Herzog.’ She stood at a distance of one hundred metres and addressed those aiming to breach the barricade. ‘You are instructed to move back from the barriers and return to the town.’
‘We do not listen to a woman!’ Israel was equalitarian. Razel’s version of Judaism was not.
‘Regardless of whom you wish to listen to, I am acting under the direct authority of the Israeli government. I will not let anyone move forward from their current positio
n. Do I make myself clear?’
‘You are very clear,’ said Razel angrily, ‘but we will not abide by your directive. We are Haredi, we have our rights, and we are coming through for our people.’
‘Then you force me to issue a command to my troops that will give me great regret.’
Addressing the troops by loud hailer and radio, she made the fateful command. ‘This is Major General Herzog. Under instructions from the Israeli government, I am reiterating my previous command to all troops assembled in position around the town of Modi’in Illit. Any attempt by any individual to cross the line of containment is to be repelled by all force deemed necessary. Your orders are to shoot to kill.’
‘We hear your fascist statements, but we are still coming through!’ Razel shouted in response to the Major General’s command.
It was then that he and his assembled followers surged forward. It was then that the Israeli military levelled their weapons and fired. At least four hundred died and another one hundred and fifty, wounded. There was no attempt by the Army to assist in the aftermath. It was up to those who had moved towards the barricades to go back to the town the best way that they could. At least three hundred and fifty were left to rot where they had fallen.
In days, the crows and the other birds of carrion assembled to pick over the remains. At least twenty army sharpshooters were given the task of eliminating them as they alighted on the decaying bodies. Eventually, the Army brought up a truck-mounted water cannon typically reserved for riot control and sprayed the corpses with a particularly virulent and offensive smelling disinfectant to deter the vermin and the birds.
Chapter 9
To: The Israeli Government and the governments of the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
Subject: Smallpox attack in Modi’in Illit.
We are a group of people dedicated to the restoration of the Palestine State. We are not fundamentalists, terrorists or ideologues driven with the overthrow of the Western world and the introduction of Sharia and Sharia law. This makes us unique in our demands.
What you have seen occur in Modi’in Illit in the West Bank, the Palestinian Occupied Territories, is an indication of our subtlety and power.
We can reveal that sufficient quantities of this aggressive genetically engineered and one hundred percent fatal virus are in place in at least twenty locations in Israel, two hundred in America and fifty in the United Kingdom. The method of release is variable, their concealment diverse. The areas in the three countries vary from small, isolated villages through to major metropolises.
We are not looking for the removal of all Jews from Palestinian lands, namely that which is called Israel now.
What we want is for the Palestinian people, long living under the yoke of oppression, to be given the right to be treated as first-class citizens in their own country. A right that most free-thinking people in the Western world would agree is not unrealistic.
Failure to acknowledge receipt of this email will ensure that further releases of the virus will occur. If the government of Israel does not acknowledge that discussions, agreements and the removal of the illegal settlements will occur immediately, then we will be forced to escalate.
That escalation will be proportional and will not be limited to Israel. We will begin with small communities, initially rising in populations and densities, until complete compliance is assured.
It is important to note that we are an intelligent and highly capable group who has the necessary skills to circumvent any attempts to find and to stop the release of the virus. It requires specific instructions to prevent and halt the release in key locations. If any of our leadership is restricted in their ability to issue a countermand to such instructions, then the virus will be released.
***
Panic stations ensued at Mossad, the CIA and Britain’s MI5 and MI6. The politicians and the militaries in all of the three countries were immediately thrown into turmoil and conjecture. A hastily convened meeting of Steve and the team along with Uri from Mossad and Ed Small on the phone conference line.
‘As you can see by the wording, we are not dealing with some rabid organisation,’ Uri said. ‘They’re obviously articulate and intelligent, although if Habash is involved, we knew that already. I’ve had my government on the phone in the last few minutes. They’re in an emergency meeting now. They’re asking us how we proceed from here. What can I say?’
‘There is nothing you can say,’ Ed said. ‘We know Haberman or Habash as you know him is a smart guy. He probably drafted the release. We don’t have any information to go with, and we’ve no idea where they will strike next.’ He let out a breath of exasperation. ‘It’s a similar situation here with our government. They’re in panic, being held for ransom and they don’t know what to do.’
‘Their demands are vague,’ Montgomery said.
‘That is clear. I can only assume that we will receive another email before they release the virus elsewhere,’ Uri said, alarmed at the prospect.
‘What’s the death count at the settlement now?’ Steve asked.
‘Six hundred and twenty confirmed infected, plus another fifty-two dead,’ replied Montgomery. ‘We may have checked further infections there. Any luck with the Palestinian who installed the air fresheners? He must have got a dose.’
‘Farid Massad. We’ve traced him to a village not far away,’ said Steve. ‘The death count there is closing in on three hundred. His brother had been visiting. He left just after Massad had developed sores. He’s a truck driver so he could have infected many more up and down the country. The installer could well be responsible for a much larger number of deaths than at the settlement.’
‘There’s also the Army’s shooting of the protesters at the barricade,’ said Uri. ‘At least four hundred and sixty if we include those that died of their injuries back in the town.’
‘This is still a minor attack on a relatively isolated community,’ said Montgomery. ‘The Haredi are not the most gregarious of people, yet here we have probably close to two thousand dead. What will happen when it is released in a more mobile society?’
‘We better hope we nip this in the bud really quick,’ replied Uri. ‘We have to wait for their demands and see what will be the response of our government. I can’t see another release being avoided.’
‘The American government will not react to a terrorist demand,’ Steve said. ‘There will be an attack in the States before Washington takes it seriously.’
Five days later the second email was received. As with the first, the computer and Internet experts were unable to trace where the email had emanated from, other than it seemed to have an origin somewhere in the Middle East.
***
To: The Israeli Government and the governments of the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
Subject: Demands on behalf of the oppressed Palestinian People.
It is clear that the events in Modi’in Illit have incurred higher casualties than we had envisaged. This is regrettable and for this, we apologise. It is also clear that a substantial number of Palestinians have also been infected. This was unexpected, and we ask their forgiveness in the name of Allah, peace be upon him.
As our initial email and its demands failed to generate an adequate response from the Zionist Israeli government, we have infected two more communities, one in the United States of America and one in Israel. These infections occurred within the last four days and, at this present moment, those that will die will show no more than the early signs of a flu-related illness. Mr. Paul Montgomery of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States of America can elaborate on those symptoms.
Our demands are as follows:
The Palestinian State and its right to exist are recognised and announced by the Israeli government on all media outlets, both in Israel and internationally.
The blockade by sea and land of Gaza is immediately removed.
All Palestinians will be ensured free,
direct and unhindered movement between Gaza and the West Bank.
The two communities infected:
Ma'ale Adumim – Israel – Alei Higayon BeKinnor Synagogue – Hallil Street – Automatic air freshener – Male toilet.
Supai – Arizona – USA – Havasupai Lodge - Located in the Grand Canyon – Automatic air freshener – Male toilet.
Our aim is not to cause untold suffering and death. It is for all of the governments contacted to reply in the affirmative to prevent escalation.
***
Ed Small had played a low-key role since his initial investigations into the removal of the virus from CDC in Atlanta. He now found himself thrust back into the forefront.
‘We’ve seen the ultimatum. We’re heading out to Arizona now,’ he said.
‘Fine, keep in contact,’ Uri said in the phone conference. ‘Do you need Montgomery?’
‘Not at the present moment. I suspect you will have more need of him there. Supai is a small community at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. We may be able to minimise casualties to no more than a handful. I assume that may not be the case over in Israel.’
‘It’s likely to be much worse,’ said Uri. ‘Attacking a Jewish settlement in the West Bank is one thing, but they still use Palestinian labour.’
‘What are our thoughts on Habash’s group?’ Steve asked. ‘Can they be genuine? Could it be that they only want a better deal for their Palestinian brothers?’
‘It’s a unique situation,’ Uri said.
‘What do you mean?’
‘We’re used to dealing with Palestinians that only want to push all of us out into the sea. Here, we have people who may genuinely want to make an agreement with us, who can see Jew and Muslim living together in some kind of peaceful utopia.’
‘Surely, that’s unlikely?’ replied Steve.
Terrorist: Three Book Boxed Set Page 11