Avraham Azrieli - The Jerusalem Assassin

“Calm down,” Elie said. “Nobody is going to die.” He lit another cigarette and puffed a few times. “It’s very simple. The first stage of my plan required that I nurture a right-wing militia.”

“The ILOT group,” Itah said. “I’ve covered their activities for Channel One. Is Freckles your agent?”

“You know Freckles?” Elie looked at her with renewed appreciation.

“He’s getting regular cash deposits in French francs. From you?”

For a moment, Elie considered whether she should be eliminated. But a TV reporter could be useful to his operation. “Some of the ILOT boys are familiar with the VIP protection procedures. When opportunity comes, one will strike at Rabin.”

“When?”

Elie shrugged. “They’ve shadowed the prime minister to major events, waiting for a lapse in security. The bullet will have low velocity, and Rabin will wear a bulletproof vest. A broken rib would be the worst he could suffer.”

“ That’s your plan?” Itah gave him a doubtful look. “You’re counting on a coincidence? You think Rabin’s bodyguards will step aside for your assassin?”

“ They’re only human. The protective ring opens occasionally, even for a brief moment.”

“ And if this unlikely chance presents itself, how do you know the bullets won’t kill Rabin?”

“ Our rabbi here can explain why,” Elie said.

“ A religious man,” Rabbi Gerster said, “especially one with a legalistic mindset, would follow Talmud to the letter. He will shoot at the fifth rib.”

“ The fifth rib?” Itah seemed bewildered. “Why not the fourth rib? Or the sixth?”

“ Talmud is very specific about this. It’s the prescribed method to stop a Rodef who is in deadly pursuit of another Jew, to disable the pursuer by striking him in the fifth rib. It’s discussed in the tractate of Sanhedrin.”

“ Correct,” Elie said. “Rabin will walk away from the shooting almost unscathed, but the Israeli public will have witnessed an honest-to-God assassination attempt. The political ramifications will be spectacular. The whole right wing will be swept off the map of legitimate politics and into the trashcan of fringe irrelevancy. Rabin’s aura as an invincible warrior will be bolstered, making him undefeatable. He will win an absolute majority in the Knesset and use that mandate to push through the rest of his peace agenda.”

“ And owe you everything?” Rabbi Gerster tugged at his side locks thoughtfully. “What’s your reward?”

“ Everything I do is for our people,” Elie said, looking at Itah, whose loyalty he wanted to win. “My work will not only end Arab terrorism, but will also prevent another Holocaust, another Exile, or another Inquisition. I’m determined to end the long chapter of suffering in Jewish history, to inoculate us against national disasters that have repeatedly stricken us.”

“ A lofty goal,” Rabbi Gerster said. “You’re still pursuing that phantom solution.”

“ The two of us are the same,” Elie said while resting his hand on Rabbi Gerster’s arm. “Since the day we hid in an attic and watched the Nazis slaughter our families, we have dedicated our lives to the eternal survival of our people, to the defeat of the next Final Solution, devised by another Fuhrer, another Pope, or another Grand Ayatollah.”

Rabbi Gerster remained quiet, which pleased Elie, who feared his long-estranged mole would rise up in opposition at this critical time.

“ I’ve developed a comprehensive strategy,” Elie continued. “ Counter Final Solution. In short, we will reorganize the existing secret services-Mossad, Shin Bet, and my SOD-into a single worldwide force capable of performing all operational elements at top level. It will gather information, infiltrate government agencies, and worm its way into ideological organizations and academic institutions in order to identify, track down, and eliminate every enemy of the Jewish people at the outset of their hostile activity. The concept aims at preventing attacks on Jews or Israeli interests worldwide, thwarting all on-going anti-Semitic activities, and suffocating all anti-Jewish intellectual enterprises. Ultimately we will achieve a total and complete immunization of the Gentile world, a cure for all of its anti-Semitic tendencies. In other words, our Counter Final Solution will exterminate the anti-Semitic virus in its totality.”

“ By exterminating every human carrier?” Itah Orr shook her head. “Madness!”

Elie considered whether to say more. Recruiting a news reporter was like cultivating a pet wolf. She could become a formidable ally, but she could also turn on him and destroy everything. By sharing his plans, he had committed to playing for her support, which would be a major coup. But failing to recruit her would necessitate silencing her before she could blow the whistle. He asked, “Don’t you believe in self-defense?”

“ I do. But-”

“ You think we should agree to again go into exile? Into the gas showers? Turn the other cheek for the convenience of our mortal enemies?”

“ Of course not. But I also don’t believe in killing indiscriminately.”

“ So you believe in self-defense as long as we’re discriminate in our actions?”

“ That’s right.”

“ Me too,” Elie said. “Join us, help us operate discriminately.”

“ Me?” Itah seemed intrigued rather than outraged. “I’ve been a TV reporter my whole adult life. What could I possibly do for you?”

“ A lot of good. My plans include a media department, designated to deal with the global news and communications organizations vis-a-vis their anti-Semitic and anti-Israel agenda. You possess the skills to successfully run that department.”

“ I’m not into killing people.”

“ You can be the voice of reason. A leader of the alternative to physical elimination, which is a last resort anyhow. There are tremendous advantages in converting foes into friends, if possible.”

“ The term Counter Final Solution implies mass extermination. It suggests killing, not kissing and making up.”

“ If we can make supporters out of powerful enemies, what could be better?”

“ Okay.” Her dismissive hostility was gone, replaced by journalistic curiosity. “Is that part of your plan or something you just came up with to woo me?”

“ Can you blame me for trying to turn you into a partner in the most exciting Jewish enterprise in our history?”

“ Rather than exterminate me?”

“ That’s not an option,” Elie lied. “We need an expert like you, capable of assessing the virility of mass communication personalities in various countries. You’ll serve as director of the global media department. You’ll apply the Counter Final Solution doctrine to journalists, authors, and entertainers. If the killing of an anti-Semitic demagogue could be avoided by converting him into a pro-Israel voice, then we gain twice!”

“ That’s a pipe dream.” Itah’s forehead creased, and she glanced at Abraham, who said nothing. She fixed her shoulder-length silver hair behind her ears. “No one has ever tried something like that.”

“ But you see the potential, yes?”

She nodded and shrugged simultaneously.

“ Then help us change history!”

“ To achieve this on a global basis would be prohibitively expensive. You’ll need a huge staff of analysts ready to digest mountains of data, translators versed in every language, powerful computers connected to every media outlet, and agents on the ground in every country who are familiar with local culture and academic activities.”

“ Go on.”

“ And you’ll need to buy off insiders, enlist them as pens-for-hire.”

“ Kind of intellectual moles?”

“ Yes, major talents, capable of redirecting the political, religious, and emotional tone of newsmakers and scholars from anti-Israel to pro-Israel, from anti-Jewish to pro-Jewish, from warmongering to reconciliation. It’s an enormous undertaking.”