Emergency Session
Knesset
Jerusalem
Ben joined the other five permanent members of Project Ararat. The chief Rabbis were absent as they were only involved when religious matters were to be discussed. Religion was the last thing on the minds of the President, Prime Minister, Defense Secretary, Mossad and Shin Bet’s Chief. The room silenced as Ben entered.
“Gentlemen,” began Ben. “I believe the state of Israel is in grave danger and I feel we have no choice but to bring forward the final stage of Project Ararat to 12 days from now.”
“Bring forward?” questioned David Hirsch. “But the logistics, it’s just not possible, we need another two months,” he stumbled, as the impact of the change crystallized in his mind.
After David’s question, the room lit up as they all tried to put their feelings across about such a monumental change of plan. Debate raged for some time but with five nuclear weapons scheduled to explode in thirteen days, there really was no alternative. Action had to be taken and Project Ararat was certainly a solution.
“OK, OK, gentlemen, please. I think we have debated the point enough,” interrupted Ehud Rabin, the President of Israel. “Let’s take a vote.”
“Everybody for the move forward, please raise your hand.”
Four hands were raised immediately and they were grudgingly followed by the final two. A unanimous decision was reached and everybody stood up to leave. There was a lot to do and less than two weeks to achieve the impossible.
Only Ben remained seated. “Gentlemen, we have one issue I believe we still need to discuss and it is rather pressing.”
“Yes?” asked Chaim Goldman, the Prime Minister.
“We do have a slight issue of the Palestinians taking a nuclear weapon to the United States.”
“But we have no confirmation of that, it could be just talk,” argued David. “We have just one woman’s word and let’s face it, she’s hardly stable.”
Ben turned to David and spoke in a tone only Ben could get away with. “That woman has sacrificed more for this country than almost anyone I know. She’s lost her parents, her son and her husband. And she doesn’t sit back and mourn. No, she stands tall and fights back. She, herself, has killed more of the scum that bombed our children than any other team that was tasked with the retaliation. She originally brought us the information that alerted us to the bombs in the first place!” His voice boomed as his anger boiled over. “And you dare question her?!”
“Look, we’re all edgy. It’s a very trying time. Whether it’s confirmed or not, we have to let the Americans know,” said Ehud. “ I will call the President and let him know. Is there anything else I can tell him?”
“That we have our best teams on it and we will find the bomb before it gets to them,” offered the Mossad chief.
“I have sent two of my best operatives to America,” added Ben turning to David and smiling. “Which includes Rebecca Cohen.”
“OK, I’ll tell him that Mossad is on it. I think I’ll leave out your guys, Ben.”
“Are you going to tell him about the threat to us?” asked Chaim.
“I have to,” replied Ehud, matter-of-factly.
“You should also give him the heads up on the blackout,” added Ben.
“Sorry, the blackout?” asked Ehud.
“Project Ararat, two weeks from completion. We’ll have a nationwide blackout, all telecommunications are to be cut off and Martial Law imposed. All our media will be off-stream as of the end of this meeting. You can use the threat as the reason for our disappearance from the world stage. Israel is going back in time. No phones, no radio, no television, no internet. The military will keep the peace and calm on the streets. Only essential military and high level government communications will remain in place.”
“Is all of this quite necessary?” asked Chaim, shaking his head. “It just seems so extreme.”
“Gentlemen,” Ben addressed the room. “We have taken the decision and we are nearing completion. Now is not the time to lessen our resolve. David, you have your work cut out for you. I suggest you get going.”