Posted on 12/11/2005 12:41:55 PM PST by avile
Here is more background on the book this movie is based on.
http://www.fas.org/irp/eprint/calahan.htm
George Jonas, author of Vengeance, (1984), provided the primary source of information regarding "Avner's" unit discussed in depth in the second case study. Avner is a former Mossad officer, selected as the team leader of an independent assassination team deployed by senior Mossad operations officer Mike Harari. After operating for approximately two years in the field and conducting nine successful assassinations of PLO terrorists, Avner officially left the Mossad on bitter terms in 1974. After two years of stressful field operations, Avner felt emotionally drained and extremely disappointed with the Mossad leadership. The Mossad had agreed to deposit a generous salary monthly into a Swiss bank account for Avner and each team member; upon completion of the assignment they would then be able to collect their funds. Avner's personal account reflected approximately $100,000 dollars when the team disbanded. Avner advised Harari that he intended to resign, withdraw his money, and move to New York. Harari recommended that Avner simply take a vacation, but remain within the Mossad. He advised Avner that he would not be required to go directly back to the field and had the option of a desk assignment. This did not appeal to Avner, as he was already very disillusioned with the Mossad leadership. He felt that they demanded absolute loyalty but did not return that loyalty. Mr. Jonas reported that to coerce him to stay, the Mossad blocked Avner's access to the Swiss bank account and threatened his family. Avner countered the threats and was recontacted by Harari soon after in an attempt to reconcile their disagreement. The threats stopped, and Avner's money was still denied, but a resolution was eventually negotiated. Mr. Jonas commented that Avner "felt grievously betrayed at the end of the mission." 1 Avner was never led to believe that continued service in the Mossad was a condition for him to retrieve his promised salary. Money was not the original motivating factor for Avner for he had fully accepted the mission prior to the promise of the Swiss account. Avner had more contacts with the Mossad, however, the details of these encounters are not available.
In an attempt to start a new life, Avner teamed with Jonas to publish the accounts of the operations he conducted as chief of one of the most successfully orchestrated covert operations in history. Obviously, the name "Avner" is a pseudonym used to protect his true identity. Avner never identified Mike Harari by name for he utilized the pseudonym 'Ephraim' to identity his Mossad contact in his personal accounts as provided to Mr. Jonas. Harari was identified through later publications and the assumption that Ephraim was Harari was drawn through collateral research.
George Jonas is an accomplished author and currently produces movies and television shows for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Toronto, Canada. Jonas explained the circumstances in which Avner came to his attention. At the conclusion of his mission and subsequent dispute with the Mossad, Avner contacted a British publishing company about his story. The publishing company in turn sought out the services of Jonas, well known and respected for his investigative journalistic skills, primarily in the law enforcement arena. Avner and Jonas discussed the possibilities of producing a book and the parameters of confidentiality. The two conducted a series of interviews regarding the details of Avner's mission to assassinate the top PLO terrorist leaders in Europe. Jonas related that Avner's recall of "small details" was remarkable. It was his ability to provide minute details inherent in the operations which enhanced Jonas' assessment of Avner's credibility. After discussing the events of the operations, Jonas traveled to the assassination sites to verify the accounts. Avner provided specifics of operational events which never appeared in news coverage of the assassinations. Only the few involved would have known the intricate operational tactics and movements described in depth by Avner. He produced detailed information regarding the movements and signals of the support teams, the makes and models of vehicles used, the descriptions of the assassination sites, weapons, the specially designed ammunition, the types of explosive devices, and their process of cultivating intelligence sources. 2
Jonas maintains his confidentiality pact with Avner regarding "Avner's" true identity. Open source published materials have speculated as to his true identify and his current location and occupation. The alleged Avner was contacted by this writer for his comments regarding the accounts in Jonas' book as well as his missions as a team leader with the Mossad. Avner related that the Mossad recently released an official statement confirming that the events published in Jonas' book, Vengeance, are, in fact, true. Contractual and confidentiality agreements prohibit him from making any further statements and or publicly confirming or denying "Avner's" true identity. Avner stated that the events in Jonas book are accurate and include all the detail he is willing, or contractually able, to provide. 3
No kidding? A Hollywood lib not liking Israel? I'm surprised, no really.
If you think my judgement is blocked...then you are questioning my judgement...but that doesn't matter to me.
I wanted to see this film. I couldn't wait until it came out. When I saw all the coming attractions, etc., I realized that this movie was not what I thought it was going to be... I think that are rights and wrongs in this world. That not every thing is gray. Not everything is morally equivilent.
Now, I was wrong about My Dog Skip... I could be wrong about this...
I'm not suggesting that the movie is anti-Israel/pro-Palestinian... I'm suggesting that the movie is anti-Israel because it brings into question whether Israel was right or not in Wrath of God.
At Munich, Black September had clear motivation to take the hostages. They did so because Israel has the land. Whether that is reason enough to commit murder... that's up to the beholder. To me... never. You can't justify it. Never can. And when you try (rhetorical you) you lose the argument.
On the other hand, denied the chance to help during the crisis... denied justice because the Germans pretty much just let the terrorists go after the botched rescue attemept... the Israelis seek justice. Not veagence... justice.
To suggest in the movie that both sides are morally equivilent to me is wrong. Bringing it forward to 9/11... to say that our response to terror is equal to flying planes into office buildings is wrong.
That's my gripe with the movie. That's what I believe the message of the movie is... That a response to terror is just as bad as the original act of terrorism in the first place.
Baloney.
That's why I won't see the movie... even though I have seen almost everything that Spielberg has done.
I meant no offense with the "cute" posts.
Until tomorrow.
I will ping you. It's about the anti-war movement. I'm making theories about them.
I read your homepage... sounds like you have a lot of talent...
Anyway...have a nice evening!
Goodnight to you. See you tomorrow--and hopefully you'll agree with me on this vanity.
Glad to hear Exodus mentioned here. It was that book that alerted me to the Jewish plight and amazing journey to statehood.
Does the movie show what a bunch of inept fools the Germans were in the whole affair? Shooting at each other instead of the terrorists.
Moral relativism, the moral equivalency, etc., are bad policy and make for mushy storytelling. Spielberg made a big mistake when he hired Tony Kushner. I can name 10 writers who would have been better. But Kushner is the flavor du jour in Hollywood, due of course to his leftist, pro-gay agenda. Anyway my point is besides being soft-on-terrorism, looks like the movie isn't good. Message movies rarely are.
bttt
bumpmark
I agree. Before Saving Private Ryan came out a lot of conservatives were criticizing it for not being pro American enough. I found the movie brilliant and could find nothing to criticize about it.
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