Former senior Mossad Intelligence Agency official Chaggai Hadas, 56, is the new government emissary responsible for negotiating the release of Gilad Shalit. By most accounts, the former intelligence community senior official, who retired in 2006, is well-qualified for the job. He will be working with a new committee that is being formed, composed of a number of senior former security/intelligence officials, which will work in concert with him towards obtaining Shalit’s release.

The committee is composed of former IDF chiefs of staff, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya’alon, former IDF major-general, Minister-without-Portfolio Yossi Peled, former senior Shin Bet official (Kadima) MK Yisrael Hasson, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Minister of Intelligence & Atomic Energy Dan Meridor. It is noteworthy to add that Hasson’s inclusion brings a member of the opposition into the senior committee.

Opposed to the appointment is Mossad Director Meir Dagan. It is reported that their inability to get along was a contributory factor to Hadas leaving the intelligence agency. Others explain that Dagan’s refusal to step down and his insistence on remaining at the helm of the organization prompted Hadas’ decision to step down.

Critics of the appointment point out that Hadas does not speak Arabic, presenting a major handicap. It is also reported that Hadas was in charge of the failed assassination attempt in Jordan of Hamas leader Khaled Meshal during PM Netanyahu’s previous tenure in office. That failed attempt led to Israel releasing a number of terrorists, including Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)