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The Sep 18th 2023 letter
September 18, 2023
To: Mr. Yuli Edelstein - Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee,
Knesset of Israel,
Re: Netanyahu’s deceit of the defense establishment and the Israel Defense
Force (the “IDF”) and significant harm to the security of the State of Israel
1. We, the undersigned, who for decades have served the State of Israel and its governments from all sides of the political spectrum: in the defense establishment, the IDF, the Mossad, the Shin-Bet (Israel Security Agency), and the police, hold Benjamin Netanyahu responsible for leading acts aimed at harming the Israeli judicial system and the Supreme Court in a way that will nullify the independence of the Israeli judiciary and subordinate it to Netanyahu and his fellow politicians.
2. These actions—led and promoted by Netanyahu—are transforming the State of Israel from a democracy based on the principles of our Declaration of Independence to an autocracy that harms Israel's national strength through the dismantling the IDF, its defense establishment, economy, financial stability, and risks the social fabric of the people and the State of Israel.
3. It is clear to us that the main motive for Netanyahu’s acts is his desire to stop the legal proceedings being conducted against him in the Israeli court on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, that were filed against him by the Attorney General that he himself chose and appointed to the position.
4. It is clear to us that his actions are intended to also enable him to cancel the State Commission of Inquiry headed by former Supreme Court President - Justice Asher Grunis, which is investigating the "submarines and marine vessels affair.”
5. In this affair, 51 affidavits signed under oath by former senior defense officials, including defense ministers, chiefs of staff, directors at the Ministry of Defense, heads of Mossad and Shin Bet, naval commanders, and more, were submitted to the Supreme Court. These affidavits call for an inquiry into the serious allegations against Netanyahu for fraud, concealment of critical security information, conduct in conflicts of interest in favor of foreign parties, and more – all in large-scale procurement deals from ThyssenKrupp in Germany
worth billions of dollars for the IDF and the defense establishment of Israel. Criminal trials are also underway regarding some of those already indicted in Case 3000 in Israeli court. Several of the accused are from Netanyahu’s office and others have close relations to him.
6. At this stage, the court and the State Commission of Inquiry are continuing their handling of Netanyahu’s trial, the submarine and naval affairs inquiry, and Case 3000, which also involves members of Netanyahu’s family. His cousin and personal lawyer, Adv. David Shimron, was also
engaged as legal advisor to the agent of the German Manufacturer of the submarines and the other vessels in Israel, ThyssenKrupp. His American cousin Nathan Milikowsky, who passed away in 2021, had a significant interest in the U.S. public company GrafTech which ThyssenKrupp was one of its significant clients. Milikowsky testified to the Israeli Police that he transferred envelopes of cash to Netanyahu over a number of years and which Netanyahu did not report as required to the appropriate authorities. In 2009 David Shimron – Netanyahu's personal lawyer notified authorities in Israel that Milikowsky sold to him in 2007 an indirect equity interest in SeaDrift – a US company controlled by Milikowsky and his family, reportedly for $600,000. At the same time when Netanyahu bought this equity stake, Milikowsky negotiated (and then later consummated) the sale of about 19% of SeaDrift to the American public company GrafTech. The price in which Netanyahu bought the shares reflected a significant discount compared to the market sale price of the SeaDrift shares to GrafTech. This created an immediate benefit of many millions of US$ to Netanyahu. Again, Netanyahu did not report or disclose, as required, this significant benefit.
7. In at least one of the cases, the allegations are exceptionally grave and are abundantly supported by evidence. The facts are clear to all, including being substantiated by Netanyahu’s own public statements and acknowledgement of the facts of the allegations against him. This case, for which there is no need to wait for conclusions by State Commission of Inquiry or the court, is that case known as the “Egyptian Submarines Affair”.
8. The Egyptian Submarines Affair:
a. The signed Affidavits filed to the supreme court by former senior defense officials detailed allegations as follows.
b. In 2014, the German government requested the Israeli government's approval for the sale of two advanced submarines to be manufactured by ThyssenKrupp to Egypt. The approval was required in accordance with existing understanding between the governments of Germany and Israel. Internal discussions and risk analysis in Israel between senior defense officials, including the defense minister, the chief of staff, the commander of the navy, the head of the Mossad, and Netanyahu as prime minister, concluded unanimously that it was essential to refuse the German government request since these submarines have weapon systems, a performance envelope, advantages, and qualities that could pose a serious threat to the IDF and the State of Israel.
c. Accordingly, the Government of Israel, through Netanyahu personally, and the Ministry of Defense, through Defense Minister Ya'alon, formally informed the German government of Israel's opposition to the sale of advanced German submarines to Egypt.
d. However, despite having taken this decision and formally informed the German Government of the refusal to permit the sale of the submarines to Egypt, in March 2015, the Israeli Ministry of Defense was informed by German sources that Netanyahu (secretly and behind the back of the defense establishment) had
authorized the Germans to sell two advanced submarines to Egypt. Defense Minister Ya’alon checked this information with Netanyahu, who denied it.
e. In May 2015, Israel President Reuven Rivlin met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Germany. During their meeting, President Rivlin sought to ensure if and who approved a sale of advanced submarines by Germany to Egypt.
f. President Rivlin was shocked to hear from Chancellor Merkel that Netanyahu had personally and in secret authorized the German government to sell Egypt two advanced submarines to be manufactured by ThyssenKrupp, President Rivlin immediately reported what he had heard from Chancellor Merkel to Israeli defense officials and to Netanyahu. Netanyahu continued to deny this claim.
g. In March 2019, Netanyahu confirmed for the first time in a live television interview in Israel with reporter Keren Marciano that he had acted behind the back of the defense establishment and concealed from senior officials, including the defense minister, the chief of staff, the head of the Mossad and others, that he had granted approval to Germany to build these two advanced submarines for Egypt, in complete contradiction to the strategic decision made formally in Israel.
h. Netanyahu claimed that his deception of the defense establishment stemmed from the existence of a "security secret" that he was prevented from sharing with senior defense officials, but that he had consulted and shared this “security secret” with Dr. Mandelblit – Israel Attorney General, and Professor Yaakov Nagel – Acting Head of the National Security Council and Major General (Ret.) Yaakov Amidror at the prime-
minister office. All three denied knowledge of, or receipt of any such “security secret”.
i. In an interview on the TV program “UVDA” (“Fact”) Channel 12 in Israel in February 2023, Dr. Mandelblit explicitly stated that Netanyahu did not consult him about any "security secret" that supposedly prevented the defense minister, the chief of staff and the head of the Mossad from knowing of the approval he gave to the German government in secret to sell advanced submarines to Egypt. Dr. Mandelblit explicitly noted that he has learned over the years about other lies on Netanyahu’s part.
9. We—as former senior defense officials and signors of this letter—know with complete certainty that there is no, and has never been a legitimate defense secret that any Israeli prime minister was prevented from sharing with the defense minister, the chief of staff and the head of the Mossad. On the contrary, the defense establishment and the IDF are responsible for maintaining the security of the State of Israel, and it is inconceivable that a prime minister would conceal such critical defense information from these defense leaders. We therefore believe that Netanyahu likely had other personal reasons in granting this
approval to the German Government and concealing this decision of his from the defense establishment.
10. We conclude that Netanyahu’s destructive conduct against the State of Israel and the defense establishment stems from his own personal considerations, from concern over the very significant charges and accusations against him, and from his acknowledged deception of the entire security and defense establishment. The conclusion raises major concerns and the suspicion that he acted and will continue to act in ways which prioritize his own personal interest, and that these personal interests are affecting and will continue to affect his behavior and decision making in a critical defense and foreign affair matter,
especially with regards to the potential agreement with Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu’s conduct and the manner in which he makes decisions, could cause significant damage to the national security of Israel and also to the national security of Israel’s close ally – the USA.
11. We, who served the State of Israel and its defense for decades, many of us risking our lives for it, would have found it extremely difficult to serve a single day in the defense establishment and the IDF under a prime minister who stands accused of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, and who deceived its defense establishment. Netanyahu has successfully done, what none of Israel enemies succeeded to do – to cause over ten thousand active reservist officers and commanders of IDF elite units and special forces and hundreds of Israeli air force pilots (who were always the spearhead volunteers of the IDF), to announce their resignation from active reserve service because of his destructive conduct. In doing so he compromised the national security of Israel and endangers our nation.
12. We represent the entire political spectrum of Israel society who served in Israel Defense Force, and we will do everything in our power to prevent Netanyahu from dismantling the State of Israel, its defense establishment, the IDF, the judicial system and the Supreme Court – which are the main pillars on which the State of Israel and its democracy exist.
13. As Chair of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee – it is your duty by law to oversee the conduct of the Government and its prime minister on such critical issues related to the national security of Israel and its future.
CC: Mr. Yair Lapid – Head of the Knesset Opposition
Adv. Gali Baharav-Miara – Attorney General of Israel
We hereby sign:
1. Lt. General (Ret.) Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon – Former Defense Minister & Chief of Staff
2. Mr. Tamir Pardo – Former Director of the Mossad
3. Lt. General (Ret.) Dan Haloutz – Former Chief of Staff
4. Major General (Ret.) Dan Harel – Former Director General of the M.O.D.
5. Major General (Ret.) Amos Gilad – Former Head of the Political-Defense Division of the M.O.D.
6. Mr. Carmi Gilon – Former Director of the Shin Bet
7. Lt. General (Ret.) Ehud Barak – Former Prime Minister, Defense Minister & Chief of Staff
8. Mr. Efraim Halevy – Former Director of the Mossad
9. Mr. Uzi Arad – Former Head of the National Security Council
10. Colonel (Ret.) Ahaz Ben Ari – Former legal advisor to the M.O.D.
11. Commissioner (Ret.) Rafi Peled – Former Chief Commissioner of Israel Police
12. Commissioner (Ret.) Assaf Hefetz – Former Chief Commissioner of Israel Police
13. Commissioner (Ret.) Moshe Karadi – Former Chief Commissioner of Israel Police
14. Major General (Ret.) Danny Yatom – Former Director of the Mossad
15. Mr. Ilan Mizrahi – Former Head of the National Security Council
16. Major General (Ret.) Ilan Biran – Former Director General of the M.O.D.
17. Major General (Ret.) Amos Yaron – Former Director General of the M.O.D.
18. Major General (Ret.) Udi Shani – Former Director General of the M.O.D.
19. Major General (Ret.) Udi Adam – Former Director General of the M.O.D.
20. Major General (Ret.) Matan Vilnai – Former Deputy Chief of Staff
21. Major General (Ret.) Menachem Einan – Former Head of IDF Planning Directorate
22. Major General (Ret.) Amram Mitzna – Former Commander of the Central Command
23. Major General (Ret.) Uri Sagi – Former Head of Intelligence Corp
24. Major General (Ret.) Moshe Evri-Soknik – Former Commander of the Land Arm
25. Major General (Ret.) Alex Tal – Former Navy Commander
26. Major General (Ret.) David Ben-Besht – Former Navy Commander
27. Major General (Ret.) Yusef Mishleb – Former Commander of the Homeland Front Command
28. Major General (Ret.) Danny Rothschild – Former Coordinator of Government operations in Judea and Samaria
29. Major General (Ret.) Yair Golan – Former Deputy Chief of Staff
30. Major General (Ret.) Ran Goren – Former Head of IDF Personnel Directorate
31. Major General (Ret.) Aharon Ze’evi-Farkash – Former Head of Intelligence Corp
32. Major General (Ret.) Gadi Shamni – Former Commander of the Central Command
33. Major General (Ret.) Nimrod Sheffer – Former Head of IDF Planning Directorate
34. Major General (Ret.) Eyal Ben Reuven – Former Commander of the IDF College
35. Major General (Ret.) Guy Tzur – Former Commander of the Land Arm
36. Major General (Ret.) Israel Ziv – Former Head of the Operations Directorate
37. Major General (Ret.) Uzi Moskowitz – Former Head of Computer Service Directorate
38. Brigadier General (Ret.) Amnon Sofrin – Former Division Director in the Mossad
39. Mr. Moshe Friedman – Chairman of the IDF Workers’ Organization
40. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Yair Yitzhaki – Former Commander of the Southern District and JerusalemDistrict
41. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Yitzhak (Jack) Dadon – Former Israel Police attaché to USA and Canada
42. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Yossi Sedbon – Former Commander of Tel Aviv District
43. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Zohar Dvir – Former Deputy Commissioner
44. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Yaakov Raz – Former Commander of National Traffic Police
45. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Dudu Mantzur – Former Commander of Lahav 433
46. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Gabi Last – Former Deputy Commissioner
47. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Yaron Be’eri – Former Commander of National Traffic Police
48. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Herzl Yossov – Former Head of Planning Directorate
49. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Boaz Gilad – Former Head of Logistics Directorate
50. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Dan Ronen – Former Commander of the Northern District
51. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Uzi Rozen – Former Head of Community and Civil Guard Directorate
52. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Avi Tiller – Former Head of Personnel Directorate
53. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Berti Ohayon – Former Head of Operations Directorate
54. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Avi Ben Hamo – Former Commander of National Traffic Police
55. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Danny Brinker – Former Deputy Commissioner
56. Deputy Commissioner (Ret.) Zeev Even-Hen – Former Commander of the Central District
57. Mr. Itzik Barzily – Former Assistant to Head of the Mossad
58. Mr. Haim Tomer – Former Division Director in the Mossad
59. Mr. Eli Yarkoni – Former Division Director in the Mossad
60. Mr. Hagay Golan – Former Division Director in the Mossad
61. Mr. Koby Avraham – Former Division Director in the Mossad
62. Mr. Boaz Gorodissky – Former Division Director in the Mossad
63. Mr. Hagai Hadas – Former Division Director in the Mossad
64. Mr. Hagai Itkin – Former Division Director in the Mossad
65. Mr. Elie Gamzon – Former Division Director in the Mossad
66. Mr. Aharon Scherf – Former Division Director in the Mossad
67. Mr. Eyal Melamed – Former Division Director in the Mossad
68. Mr. Uri Chen – Former Division Director in the Mossad
69. Mr. Amichai Erez – Former Division Director in the Mossad
70. Mr. Rolly Gueron – Former Division Director in the Mossad
71. Mr. Yitzhak Tzaddik – Former Division Director in the Mossad
72. Mr. Yehiam Mart - Former Division Director in the Mossad
73. Mr. Haim Kenig – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet
74. Mr. Tal Shaul – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet
75. Mr. Arie (Leibo) Livne – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet
76. Mr. Manachem Landau – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet
77. Mr. Hezi Kalo – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet
78. Mr. Nir Hefetz – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet
79. Mr. Hagai Avimor – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet
80. Mr. Ron Shamir – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet
81. Mr. Moti Meital – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet
82. Mr. Israel Bartov – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet
83. Mr. Haim Robovitch – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet
The Jan 25th 2024 letter
January 25, 2024
To: The President of the State of Israel, Mr. Yitzhak Herzog
Speaker of the Knesset, MK Amir Ohana, and Members of the Knesset via the Speaker
Re: Immediate Removal of Benjamin Netanyahu from the Leadership of the State of Israel
Benjamin Netanyahu poses a clear and present danger to the State of Israel.
We, the undersigned, senior commanders of Israel's military, intelligence and civil service leadership over the past decades, along with prominent industrial and business leaders, demand the immediate removal of Benjamin Netanyahu from his position as the Prime Minister of Israel. As key contributors to the country's defense and to one of the world's strongest economies over the past decades, we strongly believe that Netanyahu represents an existential and ongoing threat to the people and to the state of Israel, and that Israel has leaders capable of replacing him immediately.
As evidenced in recent polls, most Israeli citizens do not have confidence in Netanyahu’s ability to lead Israel. Therefore, we call on the Knesset of Israel to act to remove him immediately from his position as the Prime Minister of Israel.
We believe that Netanyahu bears primary responsibility for creating the circumstances leading to the brutal massacre of over 1,200 Israelis and others, the injury of over 4,500, and the kidnapping of more than 230 individuals, of whom over 130 are still held in Hamas captivity. The victims’ blood is on Netanyahu’s hands.
After forming his current government in December 2022, Netanyahu attacked the judicial system and the Supreme Court in order to escape conviction for his bribery, fraud, and breach of trust trials. Furthermore, he is under a heavy cloud of suspicion for severe defense corruption in an extremely sensitive matter concerning Israel's security, known as the Submarines Affair, under investigation by a State Commission of Inquiry.
To achieve his objectives and escape prosecution, Netanyahu appointed inept ministers, some with criminal records, and formed a coalition with extremist parties which supported his destructive agenda. To secure further support, Netanyahu enabled the violent efforts by extremist messianic settlers in Judea and Samaria to undermine the human rights of Palestinians living in those areas, and to protect them he diverted essential resources needed to secure Israel’s borders.
Leaders of Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas openly praised what they correctly saw as a destabilizing and erosive process of Israel’s stability, led by Netanyahu, and seized the opportunity to harm and damage Israel's security.
For years Netanyahu consistently implemented a reckless policy of weakening the Palestinian Authority and supporting Hamas in Gaza. This included channeling US$ hundreds of millions in suitcases of cash from Qatar to strengthen the military infrastructure of Hamas. This policy reversed Israel's long-standing strategy of bolstering moderates and fighting extremists, and directly led to the October 7th massacre.
Netanyahu and his close associates fostered a toxic atmosphere in Israel, instigated division across all sectors of our society and incited Israelis against each other, thus shattering the traditional solidarity and cohesion across Israel society which had been a crucial component in our national resilience.
Netanyahu ignored warnings systematically presented to him. In March of 2023, the defense minister warned him about the destructive ramifications of his actions on Israel's security. In response, Netanyahu chose to fire him, and only public outrage prevented this reckless step. Leading economists warned of the severe economic consequences of Netanyahu's destructive policy. The IDF chief of staff requested to brief the Netanyahu government and the Knesset on these ramifications and risks to Israel security in the region but was vetoed by Netanyahu.
On September 18, 82 former IDF generals, police high-level officers and prominent executives of security agencies, signed an open letter to the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, expressing their concerns about Netanyahu's conduct, which “could negatively inflict on Israel's national security and even the national security interest of its ally the United States.”
Three weeks later, on October 7, their warnings came horribly true.
Even now, after the October 7th massacre, Netanyahu continues his reckless behavior and, contrary to the heads of the defense establishment, refuses to take responsibility for his actions. Instead, he continues blaming others and inciting against those who had fought to save the Israeli democracy from his destructive actions and plans, and now mobilize whole heartedly to support Israel’s national war efforts. Furthermore, the incompetent ministers he appointed in redundant ministries are disrupting the vital functioning of the government while the economy is slowing down, risking going into free fall. Hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens are displaced and owners of distressed businesses are desperate for help, but Netanyahu's government has been sadly proven to be ill-equipped to provide a suitable response. Despite all this, Netanyahu refuses to define the strategic political goal that Israel needs to achieve in both fronts – in the south and along the northern border facing Hezbollah. This lack of clarity raises significant concerns among Israeli citizens and within its close ally, the United States, which provides Israel with exceptional support on the military and diplomatic/political global fronts. Netanyahu is leading Israel in an aimless war, which may drag on, driven by his personal and illegal conflicts.
Netanyahu, even at this dark hour of the gravest crisis in Israel's history, is trying to escape public accountability and is clinging to power.
Following the above, we conclude and demand:
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While Israel desperately needs unity in wartime, Netanyahu is a divisive leader.
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There exists a severe conflict between Netanyahu’s personal interests and those of the State of Israel.
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Netanyahu is demonstrably not fit, both substantively and morally, to lead Israel in time of war, and he represents a clear and present danger to Israel.
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Recent polls indicate that most Israel's citizens have lost faith in Netanyahu and want him to be removed from the Premiership.
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Netanyahu is clearly not the leader who is apt to lead Israel, neither in war nor in any process for ending it. His main motivation is to keep his extreme messianic coalition intact to back him with his criminal trial and with the State Commission of Inquiry investigating the multi-billion US$ defense fraud allegations against him.
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To prevent further negative and irreversible impact on Israel and particularly in its relationship with its loyal ally, the United States of America, Benjamin Netanyahu must be replaced immediately. Israel can't afford to wait until the end of the war
We therefore call upon all members of the Knesset: You, who have sworn allegiance to the State of Israel, must bring about Netanyahu’s immediate removal and his replacement with a trusted Prime Minister. The Israeli Nation and Jewish History will not forgive you if you don't fulfill your utmost national responsibility.
Attention:
Attorney General of the State of Israel – Adv. Gali Baharav-Miara
Leader of the Opposition – MK Yair Lapid
We sign this letter*:
Senior officials of Israel's security establishment over the past decades:
1. Lt. General (Ret.) Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon – Former Defense Minister & IDF’s Chief of Staff
2. Lt. General (Ret.) Dan Haloutz – Former IDF’s Chief of Staff
3. Mr. Tamir Pardo – Former Director of the Mossad
4. Mr. Nadav Argaman – Former Director of the Shin Bet
5.Major General (Ret.) Danny Yatom – Former Director of the Mossad, Former Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff and Security Advisor
6.Commissioner (Ret.) Assaf Hefetz – Former Chief Commissioner of Israel Police
7. Major General (Ret.) Uri Sagi – Former IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate
8. Major General (Ret.) Amnon Reshef – Former Commanding General of the Armored Corps
9. Major General (Ret.) Matan Vilnai – Former IDF Deputy Chief of Staff, Former Ambassador of Israel to China
10. Major General (Ret.) Amos Yaron – Former Head of IDF Personnel Directorate, Former Director General of the M.O.D.
11. Prof. Uzi Arad – Former Head of the National Security Council
12. Mr. David Meidan – Former Division Director in the Mossad
13. Mr. Yehiam Mart – Former Division Director in the Mossad
14. Brigadier General (Ret.) Dov Tamari – Former Commander of the IDF Command and Staff College
15. Major General (Ret.) Udi Shani – Former Director General of the M.O.D.
16. Major General (Ret.) David Ben-Besht – Former Navy Commander
17. Brigadier General (Ret.) Nehemia Dagan – Former Head of IDF’s Education Directorate
18. Brigadier General (Ret.) Rachel Dolev – Former Chief Military Censor
19. Brigadier General (Ret.) Amal Asad – Former Commander of District Coordination and Liaison
20. Mr. Arie Pelman – Former Deputy Director of the Shin Bet
21. Mr. Arie (Leibo) Livne – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet
22. Mr. Haim Tomer – Former Division Director in the Mossad
23. Colonel (Ret.) Itamar Yaar – Former Deputy Head of the National Security Council
24. Colonel (Ret.) Ahaz Ben-Ari – Former General Counsel of the M.O.D.
25. Mr. Menachem Landow – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet
26. Mr. Rafi Rahav – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet
27. Mr. Peri Golan – Former Department Director in the Shin Bet
28. Mr. Naftali Granot – Former Deputy Director of the Mossad
29. Mr. Eran Etzion – Former Deputy Head of the National Security Council
Senior executives of Israel’s industries, ambassadors, senior members of Israel’s academy, and business leaders over the past decades:
1. Prof. Aaron Ciechanover – Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry 2004, Israel Prize Laureate in Biology 2003
2. Prof. Avram Hershko – Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry 2004, Israel Prize Laureate in Biochemistry 1994
3. Prof. Dan Shechtman – Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry 2011, Israel Prize Laureate in Physics 1998
4. Dr. Jeremy Levin – Chairman Emeritus of BIO, Former CEO Teva Pharmaceuticals
5. Mr. Morris Kahn – Entrepreneur & Philanthropist
6. Dr. Judith Richter – Medinol Ltd. Co-Founder and Co-Chairman
7. Mr. Yaakov Peri – Former Chairman of Mizrahi Bank, Former CEO of Cellcom, Former Director of the Shin Bet
8. Mr. Orni Petruschka – Hi-Tech Entrepreneur
9. Mr. Dov Moran – Entrepreneur and Venture Capital investor
10. Mr. Yehuda Bronitsky – Founder of Ormat Technologies, Israel Prize Laureate 2018
11. Ms. Dita Bronitsky – Founder of Ormat Technologies, Israel Prize Laureate 2018
12. Mr. Zeevi Mozes – Social Entrepreneur & Investor, Former CEO of Yediot Aharonot
13. Prof. Avishay Braverman – Israel Prize Laureate 2020, former President of Ben Gurion University, former senior economist, World Bank
14. Mr. Jeremy Issacharoff – Former Ambassador of Israel to Germany
15. Prof. Rivka Carmi – MD
16. Adv. Michal Halperin – Former Head of the Competition Authority
17. Mr. Yoram Ben-Zeev – Former Ambassador of Israel to Germany
18. Mr. Daniel Carmon – Former Ambassador of Israel to India
19. Adv. Dina Zilber – Former Deputy of the Attorney General of Israel
20. Adv. Moshe Gavish – Former Director of Israel Tax Authority, Former Chairman of Mercantile Bank
21. Dr. Yehoshua Gleitman – Former Director of Israel Innovation Authority, Venture Capital Investor
22. Dr. Nimrod Novik – Former Special Advisor to Prime Minister
23. Mr. Alon Pinkas – Former Consul General of Israel in New York City
* Some of the signors added their signature after the letter had been originally sent
"The Real Choice: Future or Destruction"
Eran Etzion - Former Deputy Head of National Security Council
"Israel Still on Netanyahu's Path of Destruction"
Tamir Pardo - Former Director of the Mossad
Opinion of Former Mossad Chief Tamir Pardo
|N12| Published 03/01/24 13:28 | Updated 03/01/24 16:46
After Israeli society, the IDF, and state institutions, the extreme government formed here is causing the gradual dismantling of the strategic alliance with the United States - to the point of direct conflict with a supreme American security interest.
Days pass, months, and years of single rule. Eyes are still closed, or perhaps wide open but see nothing. The State of Israel is in its most difficult and complex period since its establishment. It seems that an invisible hand has managed to bring a vibrant, dynamic, amazing country - to the brink of the abyss. And still, as if that same invisible hand managed to put virtual reality glasses on our eyes that manage to present us with a picture that is the exact opposite to reality. The year 2023, which is finally ending, was terrible by any measure. It was a year that began with a loud blast with an irresponsible coalition, whose sole purpose was to shield a prime minister, a defendant in court. The act that crowned Benjamin Netanyahu and Yariv Levin brought us a government in which extremists are anchors and hold key positions like the Treasury and the Ministry of Internal Security, ten unnecessary ministers, dismantling and reassembling government offices without any logic and expectation. This is alongside building a budget whose sole purpose is to maintain the coalition even at the cost of dismantling the state. Not two months passed and the legal revolution, under the leadership of Levin and Netanyahu, began the chaos. Netanyahu began a campaign of incitement whose sole purpose is the destruction of Israeli society, adopting the messianism of right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties. Even all the warnings of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant did not help. Month after month, the system's warnings about an immediate clear threat of a multi-front war fell on deaf ears. The crisis did not only occur in Israeli society. No less severe a crisis was with its friend and significant supporter of the State of Israel. The American government looked with increasing dread at the government of Israel.
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Commitment to Israel - even in times of crisis in relations
The relationship between the State of Israel and the United States is based on shared values, the values of democracy. On Israel being the only democracy in the Middle East, on the status of American Jewry in American society. This status constituted Israel's greatest strategic asset in the Middle East and the world. Israel's status went far beyond being an ally. The power of the United States served as a shield against anti- Israeli moves in the global arena, unprecedented moves: a veto in the UN and its institutions for decades, unique security guarantees that maintain Israel's technological superiority, protection of Israel in international agencies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, human rights organizations, and courts. In the security field, the cooperation between Israel and the United States is unprecedented, similar only to its cooperation with Britain, and for nearly two decades has been a tremendous lever for the Israeli struggle against Iran and global terrorism in general, and Palestinian in particular, in the intelligence and operational fields.
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Moreover, the understanding and recognition that Israel will receive all the weapons and ammunition in times of trouble is unprecedented in international relations. These relations were maintained even when Netanyahu personally offended the President of the United States during the tenure of President Barack Obama. Intelligence and operational cooperation crossed all boundaries of imagination. The absence of Netanyahu's invitation to the White House was not coincidental. The American government was in shock at the coalition Netanyahu formed, being an extreme government with messianic and racist components causing alarm. The statements of government ministers and their contempt for the value of the relations between the two countries were answered with a plea and request to stop the legal revolution and the conduct in Judea and Samaria. This, while signaling that Israel's status in the United States is getting worse day by day, and even American Jewry began to show signs of distress. Despite all this, the government of Israel continued as usual. Despite all the warnings about a multi-front war, the government of Israel remained in a slumber.
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Israel Becomes an Obstacle to US Regional Policy
In the attack of October 7, Israel suffered the heaviest blow since its establishment. The Western Negev was conquered for more than two days, about 1,200 were killed, thousands injured, 240 abducted, and 150,000 refugees in their homeland. The war for the home began but not only in Gaza, but the northern border is also heating up, in Judea and Samaria efforts are being made to prevent escalation, and even the straits of Bab al-Mandab are blocked to Israeli shipping. It is worth mentioning that a similar event occurred in 1967 and was the cause of the outbreak of the Six-Day War. And now, with the outbreak of the war, the Prime Minister of Israel pleaded with the President of the United States, whom the government had insulted until that day, for immediate military assistance. The President of the United States, without hesitation, began transferring an unprecedented and historic air and sea train. The United States gave absolute backing to the State of Israel in its war. Even the Prime Minister's refusal to explain how Israel wants to end the campaign has not yet undermined the extent of the support. Even the deterioration of President Biden in the polls in an election year did not prevent him from providing unconditional support. Even if he wanted to, Netanyahu's extreme government would not allow him to take advantage of the opportunity.
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The Americans are trying to explain to the government that despite the disaster and the heavy price, there is a historic opportunity for Israel's integration into the regional system that the United States wants to establish. This, as a response to the Iranian- Russian-Chinese threat in the Middle East. In this system, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Emirates, and the rest of the moderate countries are partners. This is an opportunity that, if realized, will also lead to the beginning of a solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict and ensure Israel's security. At this stage, the ability to realize the opportunity is not practical. The survival instinct of the Prime Minister and his dependence on extremist parties do not allow the opportunity to be fully exploited. The great risk to the State of Israel is that for the first time Israel may come into frontal conflict with a supreme American national security interest. This irresponsible conduct of the government of Israel and its leader may pose an existential threat to the Zionist state and to the Jews of the Diaspora. Woe to us if one morning the Pentagon and the State Department come out with a statement to Congress and the White House saying that Israel has ceased to be an asset to the United States and has become a strategic burden! The writing is on the wall, and it is better for all of us to internalize this.
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Tamir Pardo is the former Director of Mossad and a member of "Commanders for the safety of Israel" movement.​
"The Real Choice: Future or Destruction"
Eran Etzion - Former Deputy Head of National Security Council
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