Jerusalem
Present Day
‘Get me Levitsky,’ he roared. ‘And Avichai Levin and Nadav Shoshan as well.’
The aide fled the room.
Cantor grabbed the remote with trembling fingers and turned up the volume.
Unconfirmed reports … Mossad accused … Social media trending … Questions being asked … Why were these negotiations conducted in secret? ... Did Israel authorize Mossad to kill those negotiators?
The prime minister swung around when the door burst open and Levitsky hurried in. He jabbed the remote at the TV and turned down the volume.
The minister held his hand up before Cantor could let loose. ‘I’ve heard. The police are investigating.’
‘I didn’t authorize any assassination,’ the prime minister yelled.
Shabak, also known as Shin Bet, was Israel’s internal security service, similar to the United States’ FBI. Mossad, which in Hebrew meant the Institute, was the country’s foreign intelligence agency, much like the CIA.
Mossad’s ramsad reported only to the prime minister, and only he could sanction an assassination.
‘I know,’ Levitsky replied soothingly and brought a glass of water to the prime minister.
Cantor emptied it in one large swallow and took several calming breaths.
‘Shoshon and Levin are on their way,’ the aide said, popping his head again.
‘No calls,’ Cantor warned him.
The aide bobbed his head and disappeared.
‘These rumors …’ the prime minister gestured toward the TV.
‘My people,’ Levitsky, referring to the police forces, ‘are still investigating. It looks like they first surfaced on Twitter and then they spread.’
‘Who posted it first?’
‘We do not know.’
A sharp knock sounded on the door before it opened. Nadav Shoshon, the director of Shabak, entered first. He was middle-aged, bald, with brown eyes that were usually mirthful. They were somber now.
A second man followed him. He was in a suit, no tie, and looked like any businessman. Clean-shaven, piercing eyes, tightly cropped hair that was turning steel grey. Avichai Levin, Mossad’s ramsad, was feared by terrorists and revered by the directors of foreign intelligence agencies. Both men knew of the negotiations. They had to, since they headed two of the three intelligence agencies in the country. The third, Aman, was the intelligence branch of the Israeli Defense Forces.
‘Avichai,’ Cantor rumbled, having gained control over himself. ‘Explain this.’
‘I can’t,’ Levin replied honestly. ‘As you know, we don’t have any such sanctioned operation.’
‘How did these rumors start, then?’
‘It looks like the first post was made on Twitter just after the killing. I just found out,’ he clarified when the three men looked at him in surprise. ‘A user who had never been on the site before. Looks like an account that was created for sending that message only. The tweet was then picked up by other users. I am sure there were some bots, too, that kept retweeting. The rumor spread from there.’
‘How did the killers know about the negotiations?’ the prime minister asked.
No one knew.
‘This isn’t something that was planned overnight,’ Shoshon said, breaking the silence. ‘The killers would have to know who the Palestinian negotiators were. Where they were staying. Maryam Razak and Farhan Ba used to go for a drive every day—’
He stopped when a sharp sound echoed in the room. The prime minister slapping his forehead dramatically.
‘The others!’ Cantor exclaimed. ‘We’ve got to—’
‘They have all been moved, sir,’ Levitsky broke in. ‘Our negotiators as well as the Palestinians. We’ve put them up in another hotel on Emek Refaim Street. Yamam and Yasam units are protecting the hotel. The street is shut down.’
Yamam was an elite police unit, whereas Yasam was the counter-terrorist unit present in each Israeli district.
‘No one can enter that hotel,’ the public security minister concluded.
‘I am putting together an investigative unit.’ Cantor straightened from the desk he was leaning against. ‘Representatives from Mossad, Shabak, and IDF. Reporting only to me. We need answers fast. We have to find those killers.’
‘Sir,’ Levin held up a hand.
‘What?’
‘Can I have a moment with you?’
The prime minister paused. Mossad was one of the most secretive agencies in the world. Even Shoshon or Levitsky weren’t privy to its working. I, too, don’t know all of it.
‘Do you have any objections to this investigative unit?’
‘No, sir,’ Levin replied.
‘Shoshon, you’ll put this team together. Right away. I want hourly updates. Thank you for coming.’
The minister and the Shabak director left the room.
‘What is it, Avichai?’ Cantor asked wearily when the two men were alone.
‘I don’t want anyone external investigating Mossad, sir.’
The prime minister nodded. He had suspected something like this was behind the ramsad’s request.
‘You’re aware of the implications of these killings?’
‘Political, sir?’
‘Not political. What it means to your agency.’
‘Yes, sir. If these rumors are true, it means some of my operatives have gone rogue.’