No Mission Is Impossible (33 page)

“The Liquidation,” Noemi Levitzki, Yedioth Ahronoth, 5.4.1993. (h)

“The Jihad against Abu Jihad,” Ronen Bergman, Yedioth Ahronoth, 23.3.2012. (h)

“The Israelis shot my father and mother shouted: Stop!” Semadar Perri, Yedioth Ahronoth, 22.4.1994. (h)

“That is how Abu Jihad was killed,” Al Hamishmar, 17.10.1990. (h)

“4000 Israelis took part in the elimination of the terrorist Abu Jihad,” according to Robert Fisk, The Independent, as quoted in Maariv, 13.4.2001. (h)

“Um Jihad, his widow, talks . . .” Yassar Muassi, Emza Natania, 29.10.1993. (h)

Interview with family members of Miriam Ben- Yair.

23: “Where Is the ship?” 2002

“Disclosure: That's how the Shayetet captured the weapons-carrying boat Karine A,” Hannan Greenberg, Maariv, 13.1.12. (h)

“The old man and the sea,” Amir Oren, Haaretz, 11.1.2002.

“Suddenly, out of the dark, the commando fighters appeared,” Yoav Limor, NRG Internet site, 6.1.2002. (h)

“Seized arms would have vastly extended Arafat's arsenal,” James Bennet, New York Times, January 12 2002

“The weapons-carrying boat Victoria, accompanied by IDF forces, docked in Ashdod port,” Amir Buhbut, Maariv, 16.3.2011. (h)

“The Navy captured the weapons-carrying boat that made its way from Turkey to Gaza,” Amir Buhbut, Maariv, 15.3.2011. (h)

“The Idf forces captured a weapons-carrying boat from Syria to the Gaza strip,” Ron Ben Ishai, Yoav Zeitun, Ynet, 15.3.2011. (h)

“What brought to the capture of the Karine A,” Jacky Hugi, Maariv, 22.1.09. (h)

“Broke the waves,” Nahum Barnea, Yedioth Ahronoth, 29.9.2004. (h)

“Israel recorded Arafat talking about buying the weapons-carrying boat,” Ilan Nachshon, Yedioth Ahronoth, 17.1.2002. (h)

“I have been on many enemy boats,” Igal Sarna, Yedioth Ahronoth, 11.1.2002. (h)

Lecture by Admiral Eli (Chiney) Marom at a conference in the Israel Intelligence Heritage and Commemoration Center, 29.2.2012. (h)

Interview of Shaul Mofaz.

24: Holocaust Remembrance Day in the Nablus Qasbah, 2002

Harel Amos, Issasharof Avi, “The seventh war,” Yedioth Ahronoth publishers, Tel Aviv, 2005. (h)

The battle over the Qasbah in Nablus: 13 armed Palestinians were killed,” Amira Hess, Amos Harel, Aliza Arbeli, Haaretz, 7.4.2002. (h)

“You are alive and fighting like in a movie,” Felix Frish, 8.4.2002. (h)

“Two soldiers were killed in Jenin camp,” Amos Harel. Amira Hess, Haaretz, 8.4.2002.(h)

“At 6.30 the last wanted terrorists surrendered in the Nablus Qasbah,” Amos Harel, Haaretz, 9.4.2002. (h)

“A senior military Fatah commander was killed in the Qasbah,” Globe's, 7.4.2002. (h)

“Between the walls” Alex Fishman, Yedioth Ahronoth, 30.3.2012. (h)

“Lieutenant Colonel Ofek Buhris is expected to be the first decorated soldier of operation Defensive Shield,” Yoav Limor, NRG, 31.5.2012. (h)

“The terrorists did not notice us, they walked calmly like reserve soldiers on leave,” Tal Zagraba, Bamahane, 20.3.2009. (h)

“Adventures of the naval commando in the alleys of Jenin,” Yoav Limor, Israel Today, 30.3.2012. (h)

“Ten years to Defensive Shield,” Ron Ben-Ishai, Ynet, 30.3.2012. (h)

“Did we defeat Palestinian terror?” Bamahane, 1.4.2012. (h)

Interview of Aviv Kochavi.

25: The Never-Ending Story in Gaza: 2008, 2012, 2014

Cast Lead 2008

“Head of UNRWA: There are members of Hamas in the organization. It's not a problem,” Diana-Bachor-Nir, Ynet, 4.10.2004. (h)

“Gaza: 10 killed in IAF attck: Senior Hamas commander killed,” Amir Buhbut, NRG, 29.12.2008. (h)

“IAF attacked targets at the strip northern part,” Nir Yahav, Yehoshua Breiner, Walla!, 31.12.2008. (h)

“Galant after the liquidation: we pressured Hamas heavily,” Shmulik Hadad, NRG, 15.1.2009. (h)

“Mashal offered Quiet for lifting the siege,” Reuters, Ynet, 29.12.2009. (h)

The government confirmed recruiting thousands of reserve soldiers,” Walla!, 28.12.2008. (h)

“IDF opened artillery fire: hundreds of shells were fired,” Ynet, 3.1.2009. (h)

“The ground operation started: IDF hit tens of terrorists,” Ynet, 3.1.2009. (h)

“The ground operation started: IDF forces entered the Gaza strip,” Hanan Greenberg, Ynet, 3.1.2009.

“Palestinian report: The IDF split the Gaza strip into three parts,” Or Heller, Allon Ben David, Nana 10 Internet Site, 4.1.2009. (h)

“The target—attacking Gaza. The result—perfect,” Amir Buhbut, NRG, 27.12.2008. (h)

“General Security service: Hamas activists are hiding in hospitals in Gaza,” Rony Sofer, Hanan Greenberg, Ynet, 31.12.2008. (h)

“Head of a Gaza hospital: Diskin Lies,” Daniel Edelson, Ynet, 31.12.2008. (h)

“Han Yunes: two Hamas senior commanders were liquidated in the attack,” Amir Buhbut, NRG, 4.1.2009. (h)

“IDF to the Supreme Court: Rockets were launched from the hospital, that is why it was bombed,” Shmuel Mitelman, NRG, 15.1.2009. (h)

“The Chief of staff visited secretly the fighters in Gaza,” Yehoshua Breiner, Walla!, 8.1.2009. (h)

“General Galant, Commander of the southern district, returns to the sea of Gaza,” Amir Buhbut, NRG, 9.1.2009. (h)

“IDF: Fire was opened from the doctor's house and UNRWA compound,” Hanan Greenberg, Ynet, 17.1.2009.

“Commotion in Sheba hospital: The doctor from Gaza is spreading propaganda,” Dudi Cohen, Meital Yassur Beit-Or, Ynet, 17.1.2009. (h)

“Olmert declared ceasefire: mission accomplished,” Rony Sofer, Ynet, 17.1.2009. (h)

“With bared teeth: Oketz dogs to catch stone throwers,” Amir Buhbut, Maariv, February 4 2010.

“Israeli commander: ‘We rewrote rules of war for Gaza conflict',” The Belfast Telegraph (Jerusalem), March 6, 2010.

“Rockets hit Israel, breaking Hamas truce,” Isabel Kershner, International Herald Tribune, June 25, 2008.

“Israel Rejected Hamas Ceasefire Offer in December,” IPS, January 9 2009.

“Gaza-Israel truce in jeopardy,” Al Jazeera, December 15, 2009.

“In Gaza, Both Sides Reveal New Gear,” Defense News, January 5, 2009.

“Israeli troops, tanks slice deep into Gaza,” Ibrahim Barzak and Jason Keyser, Associated Press, January 4 2009, azcentral.com., February 18, 2009.

“Israeli arsenal deployed against Gaza during Operation Cast Lead,” Journal of Palestine Studies (Institute for Palestine Studies), XXXVIII (3): 175–191. ISSN 1533–8614. Esposito, Michele K. (Spring 2000). March 6, 2010.

“Israel enters Gaza: Negotiating with extreme prejudice,” Klein Aaron, Time, January 3, 2009.

“Palestinians: Mother, 4 children killed in IDF Gaza offensive,” Amos Harel, Yanir Yagna and Yoav Stern, Ha'aretz, January 3, 2009.

“Reconsidering the Goldstone report on Israel and war crimes,” Richard Goldstone, Washington Post, April 1, 2011.

Interview of Yoav Galant.

Pillar of Defence

The IAF Commander said “Kill the bastard.” The missiles were fired at Jabari. The Sunday Times report, Uzi Mahanaimi, as quoted in Maariv, NRG, 18.11.12. (h)

“Hamas Military leader Ahmed Jabari killed on a missile strike by Israeli Defense force,” Ted Thornkill, The Huffington Post UK, November 15, 2012.

“IDF refrains from killing civilians, but still has not learned the nature of Hamas,” Amira Hess, Haaretz, 16.11.12. (h)

“The assassination and the state of alert,” Nahum Barnea, Sima Kadmon, Alex Fishman, Eitan Haber, Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth Ahronoth, 15.11.12. (h)

“The Hamas commander was killed; a large scale operation in the Gaza strip,” Amos Harel and Avi Issasharof, Aluf Ben, Amir Oren, Yossi Verter, Haaretz, 15.11.12. (h)

“A smokescreen,” Alex Fishman, Yedioth Aharonoth, the Magazine,16.11.2012. (h)

“Efforts to reach a ceasefire,” Nahum Barnea, Shimon Shiffer, Alex Fishman, Yedioth Ahronoth, 18.11.2012. (h)

“A defense of iron,” Eitan Haber, Yedioth Ahronoth, 18.11.12. (h)

“Netanyahu: I agree to a general ceasefire, but if the [rocket] firing does not stop, we'll invade Gaza,” Barak Ravid, Haaretz, 18.11.12. (h)

“In our field,” Alex Fishman, Yedioth Ahronoth, 21.11.12. (h)

“Rockets fall in two schools in Ashkelon; A senior Jihad commander killed,” Gili Cohen, Yanir Yanga, Haim Levinson, Jacki Hugi, Haaretz, 20.11.12. (h)

“A night meeting of the “Nine”; Obama presses for a ceasefire,” Yedioth Ahronoth, 20.11.12. (h)

“ ‘Red Paint' from Beer-Sheba to Tel-Aviv,” Yedioth Ahronoth, 16.11.12. (h)

“Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire under Egyptian patronage,” Barak Ravid, Jacki Hugi, Haaretz, 22.11.12. (h)

“The Mediator of the agreement: The head of the Mossad,” Itamar Eichner, Yedioth Ahronoth, 22.11.12. (h)

“The light behind the cloud,” Alex Fishman, Yedioth Ahronoth, 23.11.12. (h)

“Release Order,” Eitan Gluckman, Matty Saiber, Zeev Goldshmidt, Yedioth Ahronoth, 23.11.12. (h)

“The Star War,” Amir Shuan, Amira Lam, Yedioth Ahronoth, the Magazine, 23.11.12. (h)

Protective Edge

“Eitan's heroism,” Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth Ahronoth, 4.8.2014. (h)

“From depth I thee called,” Eitan Glikman, Yedioth Ahronoth, 6.8.2014. (h)

““The hero who chased the terrorists,” Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth Ahronoth, 4.8.2014.

“Hamas tunnel in Gaza,” Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth Ahronoth, 31.7.2014. (h)

“The bombers,” Ariela Ringel-Hoffman, Yedioth Ahronoth, 1.8.2014. (h)

“Fighting above and under the houses,” Gili Cohen, Haaretz, 31.7.2014. (h)

“Advancing in the pace of the bulldozer,” Amos Harel, Haaretz, 31.7.2014. (h)

“Hamas members coming to sting and disappear,” Odded Shalom, Yedioth Ahronoth, 25.7.2014. (h)

“The light at the end,” Alex Fishman, Yedioth Ahronoth, 12.8.2014. (h)

“Death tunnels,” Semadar Perri, Yedioth Ahronoth, 12.8.2014. (h)

“Exposure to the future: new technologies,” Haaretz, 1.8.2014. (h)

“I would have jumped into the tunnel—Colonel Ofer Winter,” Yossi Yehoshua, Yedioth Ahronoth, 13.8.2014. (h)

“A non-choice war,” Sima Kadmon, Yedioth Ahronoth, 15.8.2014. (h)

“An operation getting confused,” Alex Fishman, Yedioth Ahronoth, 15.8.2014. (h)

“Bank of targets and reality?” Asaf Hazani, Haaretz, 15.8.2014. (h)

“Sorry we have told you to return home,” Yedioth Ahronoth, 14.8.2014. (h)

“IDF has lost its creativity,” Michael Bar-Zohar, Ynet, opinions, 11.8.2014.

“ISIS (Dai`sh) in Gaza,” Michael Bar-Zohar, Ynet, opinions, 24.8.2014. (h)

Interview of Amir Peretz.

26: From the Heart of Africa to Jerusalem: Operation Moses 1984 and Operation Solomon 1991

Adega Abraham, “The voyage to the dream,” self-edition, Tel-Aviv, 2000. (h)

Shimron Gad, “Bring me the Jews of Ethiopia,” Maariv publishers, Hed-Arzi, Or-Yehuda, 1988. (h)

Shimron Gad, “The Mossad and the Myth; the best smugglers in the world,” Keter, Jerusalem, pp. 207–233. (h)

Toren Yaron (editor) “Operation Solomon: Beita Israel coming back home,” The Jewish agency—Department of Immigration and Absorption, Jerusalem, 1994, pp. 28–35. (h)

“The price: 4000 dead,” Ronen Bergman, Yedioth Ahronoth, 3.7.1998. (h)

“The one responsible for Operation Solomon: All the Falashmura should be brought to Israel,” Bareket Feldman, Haaretz, 28.5.2006. (h)

“The Shayetet and the Mossad in a rare documentation, in Operation Moses,” (Hadashot), channel 2, Israeli TV. (h)

“Military Operations behind enemy lines, Shaldag unit,” Michal Danieli, PAZAM, Internet site, 1.7.2011. (h)

“Third place: Shaldag,” Yoav Limor and Allon Ben David, Ynet, 14.2.2008. (h)

“Operation Solomon,” IAF Internet site. (h)

“Flotilla 13 landed in Sudan,” Arie Kiezel, Yedioth Ahronoth, 18.3.1994. (h)

“There was no one who was not moved, even me,” Ravid Oren, Yedioth Ahronoth, 20.5.2011. (h)

“The IDF rescued the Ethiopian Jewry,” Hadashot, 26.5.1991. (h)

“Shai said no,” Orit Galili, Haaretz, 3.6.1991. (h)

“Exodus from Ethiopia,” Tudor Perfitte, Yedioth Ahronoth, 1.11.1985. (h)

“Following him in the desert,” Smadar Shir, Yedioth Ahronoth, 17.7.2009. (h)

Interview of Benyamin (Beni) Ganz.

T
he story of the perilous missions described in our book is based on a multitude of sources: books and articles; archival documents, some of which had never been published before; Internet sites; interviews with a great number of past and present IDF officers, soldiers and statesmen. We thank the IDF Archives, the authors of the books and articles presented in our bibliography and the fighters themselves—some of them still in uniform, many of them retired or holding major civilian positions. The IDF spokesman, General Yoav (“Poli”) Mordechai, together with his devoted staff, gave us very useful assistance from the moment this project was born.

We are also very grateful for the help of Ms. Nily Falic, chairperson of the FIDF—“Friends of the IDF”—association; General (res.) Gershon (“Jerry”) Yitzhak, former director of the FIDF in New York, and his successor, General (res.) Meir Khalifi; the Hecht Foundation; and General (res.) Avigdor Kahalani, the ultimate Israeli hero, today chairman of the Association for the Israeli Soldiers' Welfare.

Our project was encouraged and supported by our excellent agent, Al Zuckerman, “Mr. Writers' House”; his foreign rights magician, Ms. Maja Nikolic; and our publishers, Dov Eichenwald of Yedioth Aharonoth
Books for the Israeli version, and Dan Halpern at Ecco/HarperCollins. The English manuscript, translated together with Nathan K. Burstein, took its final shape after additional research and rewriting; once again, the contribution of our home editor, Nilly Ovnat, was invaluable. In New York we got the devoted and efficient assistance of our editor, the excellent Gabriella Doob; and Katherine Beitner was incomparable in spreading the good word. Special thanks to Ecco's associate publisher, Craig Young, for his wise counsels and ideas.

And finally, thanks again to our superb ladies, Galila Bar-Zohar and Amy Korman, who stood by us while this second book—after Mossad—was researched, written and saw the light of day.