12.07.2015 Views

By Way of Deception

By Way of Deception

By Way of Deception

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

BY WAY OF DECEPTION 295the appropriate approvals from Khartoum, it could be turned intoa full-fledged resort.Arabic-speaking Yehuda Gil, one <strong>of</strong> their most experienced katsas,was sent to Khartoum to pose as the representative <strong>of</strong> a Belgiantourist company that wanted to promote Red Sea diving anddesert sight-seeing tours in Sudan. Normally, katsas are not sentinto Arab countries because <strong>of</strong> the amount <strong>of</strong> knowledge they haveand the danger that they could be forced to share it with theenemy if they were captured. But because <strong>of</strong> the urgency <strong>of</strong> thesituation, it was decided to take the risk this time.Gil's job was to obtain the necessary permits, which entailedbribing several <strong>of</strong>ficials, to expedite his company's tourism plans.He rented a house • in the upscale northern section <strong>of</strong> Khartoum,and set about his labors.At the same time, another Tsafririm man flew to Khartoum, thento Port Sudan, and from there drove up the beach to find the manoperating the tiny diving club. As luck would have it, the man wasgetting tired <strong>of</strong> the place. After considerable haggling, it was agreedto send him to Panama (where he still leads the life <strong>of</strong> the classicbeach bum); his club would immediately come under newownership.The Mossad was beginning to see this operation as another "MagicCarpet" (a famous rescue in the early 1950s <strong>of</strong> Jews from Yemenwho were flown into Israel by Hercules aircraft). They had alreadydecided to use the reliable Hercules to airlift the Falashas out, butthe tourist camp would have to be drastically enlarged as a coverfor the operation. In the meantime, Gil had arranged for theregistration <strong>of</strong> the new company and was already organizinglegitimate tours from Europe to bring visitors to the site. Next, theydiscovered a sunken ship about 100 yards out from shore in some65 feet <strong>of</strong> water: it was perfect for shallow diving, and a goodtourist draw.At the site, they began a recruiting drive for workers among localvillagers. At the same time, Tsafririm <strong>of</strong>ficials in Tel Aviv werequietly recruiting the cooks, diving instructors,

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!