other-side-of-deception-victor-ostrovsky

fied for him by the electronics company Sitex and send it via diplomaticpouch to the Paris station. They would have the program deliveredto him.I didn't understand why we dealt with these characters to beginwith. But David Biran, who had hosted the conference, said the benefitswere far greater than the smell. It was not my place to questionbut to obey, and so I did."Hey, Victor." Yehuda Gill, a veteran katsa' and one of the livinglegends of the >lossad, called me as I was about to pass through thesecurity post at the entrance to the building. I turned and he waved atme, pointing to a corridor that led to the photographic department.The man was involved in just about every operation that called forelaborate planning, yet he was one of the more modest people in theorganization.I smiled and walked in his direction. He put a hand on my shoulder."Come with me. I'm going to have my ugly face photographed fora new American passport. I want to talk to you."We entered the empty photo studio. "The photographer will behere in a few minutes," he said."What's with the American passport?" That was a very rare thingto get. The Mossad tried to avoid as much as possible the use ofAmerican passports."I'll be working in the States for the All department. We've got abig cleanup job there.""I never heard of any screwups there. What's to clean up?""The Pollard thing.""I thought that was LAKAM'?""They made the mess, but we have to clean ir up. I have to contactthe famous Mr. X and see to it that he doesn't get caught."1. Katsa: Garhrring officcr, or case officer, in the hlossad. Only about thirty-fiveactive katsas are in the field at any given time.2. Al: A secret unit nf experiencrd kotsus working under deep cover in theUnited States.3. LAKAAM: Lishka 1.e Kishry Mada, the section for scientific relations, a specialunit directly under the prime minister's office that was gathering intelligence inthe United States. Not part of the Mossad.I knew something about the case. The I.AKAM had recruited aman named Jonathan Pollard, an American Jew working in U.S. navyintelligence, and had worked him as a spv. He was captured in 1986bv the FBI, after being refused asylum in the Israeli embassy in Washjngton.That refusal was the direct result of Mossad intervention,alth(~ugh the affair was handled outside the Mossad. There wasrumored to be a link between Pollard and the Mossad, someoneknown as Mr. X. We never got the full story, and what did comethrough was buried in paper."So there is a Mr. X?" I said..'In name only. hlr. X is not one person. Eitan4 took from us lists ofjnYnninl" when he left. He used them as sources. They would tell himwhere things were, and he would have Pollard bring out the hard copy.""They agreed?" I knew it was a dumb question the moment Iasked it."Agreed? A sayan is there to serve, not to question. If we don'tmove fast, others will end up in jail cells next to Pollard. So I have togo out there and see that it doesn't happen. How many Jews do youknow in America who are willing to be branded a traitor and spendtime in prison for the glory of Israel?"I nodded in understanding. "So what can I do for you?""Korhing. I just want to talk to you about you.""Me? What's to talk about?""I heard some things about you, and I think you should knowabout them.""What things?""First, you have Mike Harari,h whom you played for a fool. He'sstill after your hide. The man is spreading stories about you. Thenthere are all the people you rub the wrong way when you talk politics."Yehuda looked at me like a teacher eyeing a young rascal. "You4. Eitan: Rcfcrence to Rafarl Eiran, an ex-hloswd otficcr who headed theLAKAhl.5. Sayanim: Derives frnm the Hebrew word lesa?e'zh, meaning "nl help." Thereference is to Jewish hclprrs who do things for the .Mossad. They're not paid,so it can never be said they're doing what thcy're doing far the monry. Severalrestrictions govcrn their use. par example, a sayan cannot be askrd to do a jobinside an Arab country.6. hlike Harari: Ex-Mnssad officer involved in shady activities worldwide.Known to have been the Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega's partner.