Broken Lands Page 5

  The downtown Geneva financial district was immaculate, considering the number of people that worked in the area. It had an atmosphere which emulated a certain timelessness and entranced people anyone walking by. Everyone in the area made sure to maintain a pleasant, clean environment. Of course, having the guided touch of European culture never hurt. The design elements of the buildings radiated with the accents of their historical past. Most had been built in the late 18th century, but many had architectural elements superimposed with those of the Post-WWII period, morphed as part of the design.

  Many banks around the world maintained anonymous accounts for their clientele. One of them was our targeted goal; the First Swiss National Bank. In fact, First Swiss was the oldest banking establishments in Europe. Like most present-day establishments, it had some of the best security systems in the world, though if anyone had access to the internal codes, it was still subject to breaches.

  Gabor Glanzmann had been one of our overseas agents for more than a decade. His European connections were instrumental in providing the Organization with an important covert gateway for many of our operations. For this particular operation, he supplied our team with the layouts for the computer rooms at the bank, as well as the needed passwords. When Udi contacted Gabor, they drafted the paperwork needed to create a scenario that would justify their presence in the bank. Gabor was a tall slender man in his late forties with curly blonde hair and a thin mustache. By his frail appearance, no one could possibly assess his character as a man having so much power and knowledge about counter-terrorism. He was one of many of our operatives who have always been especially motivated to destroy any terrorist organization. Both of his parents were brutally killed by Islamic Jihadists in the early 90’s as they left their Sabbath services. Revenge was a soft word to describe the types of acts of retribution that went through his mind on a daily basis.

  Gabor had been tracking the flow of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas’ dirty money from the beginning; keeping a very sharp watch on the movement in their accounts. The data he transferred to the Israeli Intelligence served well to expose Hamas and Fattah as blatant criminal entities. The records clearly showed the movement of money between the elite within the Palestinian governing bodies. There had been millions of dollars transferred from Iran, Qatar and the European Union, none of which was ever allocated to the needs of the general population of Palestine. The large amounts found their way to the private accounts of Palestinian government officials, instead, whose relatives were opulently living abroad in countries like Qatar, United Arab Emirates, France, Holland, Germany, and Turkey.

  Yaniv’s job was to divert the funds by using the proper sharing parameters. The encrypted command syntax that the bank guarded made it virtually impossible to handle. However, with Erez’s inventiveness, anything was possible. Yaniv and Udi had the foundations to deal with anything that came their way. While Udi coordinated the operation with Gabor, Yaniv scanned the whole floor plan level in order to identify the personnel in attendance. He made sure that every person in the room was in their designated location, matching the locations that the previous mappings had specified. Most of the bank officers were seated at their desks talking on telephones, looking at their monitors. Each wore a headset, which meant either business or pleasure coming through the earpiece. There was a security guard in every wing, but his or her focus was on looking out for anyone approaching the area, as opposed to what was occurring within the partitions of the bank. Yaniv’s photographic memory was capturing every aspect of the details relating to the people and their surroundings He knew quite well that any deviation from the original layouts that had been provided by Gabor could change the planning of the operation.

  He was quite satisfied by the accuracy of Gabor’s details on which the ultimate success in the operation arena was so clearly dependent. Everything was precisely located, just as Gabor had arranged for them: terminal locations, server towers, access to the fiber optic relay room - most importantly, the encrypted codes which provided the methods by which numerous transactions and transfers could be made. The following day, Yaniv and Udi implemented the plan according to schedule.

  It was quite simple: enter as technical support engineers, use the necessary passwords for editing and deleting backups for any programming failures, create havoc on the computers, and process the necessary transaction to withdraw funds from the Palestinian accounts. In order to emphasize the justification of his presence, Udi took great care in providing hands-on time and attention for each computer station in the office. The work was done without any interference from bank security guards or supervisors. All the necessary configurations had been set for the required actions to take place.

  Within a few minutes, the nested funds that were the majority of the dirty money that Fattah and Hamas had accumulated was in cyberspace, on its way to a more befitting secure location: that being a place where it would be kept safe and handled through an escrow account which had been in the hands of their managers for the new Israeli-Palestinian partnership.

  Unfortunately for us, there was no way to physically get into the personal deposit boxes in the vaults and empty the diamonds that had been bought with previous misappropriations. That would have been the grand finale for our sting operation. The money snatched by the Organization was sent and received in an adjacent bank in the area; one operated by the European Counter Fraud Committee. It was transferred through untraceable routes that only Erez and the top leaders of the Organization could reveal through intricate encrypted codes. As always, our successful missions were the result of the way we did things, with our own set of rules, with no need to apologize for our actions.

  Finally, there was a Palestinian People’s Republic annual budget; sponsored by many multinational trust funds; the Israeli Treasury Department, and having Inkasar as its main consignee.

  As soon as the funds reached their final destination, all the project managers and group leaders received the proper notifications which were then relayed to Inkasar for their assessment on the local level. The feuds that were constantly brewing between Fattah and Hamas were the foundation that gave the mission programmers more ideas for further sting operations. The whole idea revolved around numerous scenarios of bank robberies. In the end, our many sting operations were executed perfectly; leaving implanted traces, which when identified, would point to either Hamas, Fattah or other radical factions as the executors of the robberies. Our mission was to empty the safety deposit boxes and guarded money. The funds that had been constantly streaming in from Iran, Qatar and the numerous bogus aid foundations created in hundreds of Mosques around the world, were now immediately funneled directly to Inkasar. The friction caused by these events created havoc and some deeply grooved notches on the nerves of the Hamas and Fattah’s leaders. There was only one more location in Nablus that was on the itinerary.

  Just north of Jericho, the noisy chatter of men rang raucously from a hilltop cabin. One could hear a chorus of laughter that resonated in all directions. “We’ll show those fucking Jews who we are,” said Mahmud Bin Nula, the head of Hamas’ West Bank Operations Division.

  This clan had been responsible for planning many of the suicide-bomber attacks which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Israelis and Israeli-Arabs. They were very proud of their accomplishments, despite the fact that in many cases Arab citizens were killed during their attacks. Two of the men in the cabin had been prisoners who were released from Israeli jails as part of previous negotiations, an exchange for the return of abducted Israeli soldiers and civilians.

  “Those ignorant, donkey-assed politicians don’t have an idea what we have in store for them,” Mahmud barked loudly. The men sitting with him all nodded in agreement, while smoking their Hookah water pipes. The smelly combination of their sweaty clothes and the denseness of the smoke that was spiraling upwards from their pipes chased off every fly in the room. Hygiene was not a priority for these militants; w
ife beating and the assault of innocent citizens in Palestine or Israel was preferential to keeping their bodies and minds clean.

  “What is planned for today?” asked one of the men after letting out a roller coaster of smoke out of his mouth.

  “We have two young men from Beit Lechem (Bethlehem) packed and ready to go into Jerusalem. We promised them that we would take care of their families and that Allah would do the rest. Of course, you know where that money is going to go,” he said with a smirk, and commenced to laugh rambunctiously.

  “Mahmud. How is that new audio system and laptop computer you bought last week?”

  “Yeah, it is really nice. My kids love it. Things are really great. I didn’t think the money would come so fast, but it has.” Mahmud showed no other emotion other than the excitement of a child after getting new toys. The fact that someone gave up his life when taking the lives of dozens of people meant camel shit to him. He has been living in a dog-eat-dog world his whole life; in a dark place where there were no signs of the possibility of any change; an existence on a bleak horizon. The only game he understood was one of capturing power and dominance by means of manipulation and violence.

  Mahmud had been part of this particular terrorist network since the Jordanians relinquished sovereignty over the West Bank in the peace accords. He had worked as a bodyguard for different leaders of many different terrorist factions but now that he was the chief of operations for Hamas, he was especially charged with the quest for rewards - even if the rewards came from the funds which should have been allocated for the sacrificial act of madness by someone else. Everyone who was close to the money was getting rich, and they all wanted a piece of the pie. They had no sensitivity for their brothers who were living under the poverty line. It meant nothing to them; nor did the fact that thousands of Muslims all over the Arab world were being murdered by their own brothers in the name of Allah.

  Kareem, who was sitting to Mahmud’s left, enjoyed hearing about the suffering of others in detail. The act of inflicting pain was the focus of his pathetic life. “What did you tell the parents of the last group of suicide volunteers after their successful mission?” he asked in a tone loaded with sarcastic curiosity.

  “What’s the problem? I told them that there were major delays due to Hamas’ serious budgetary problems.” They all laughed in a cyclical rumble as Mahmud expressed his thoughts in such a cold nonchalant, discourteous manner. He had no idea that his lies foreshadowed the fall of the status quo and the blossoming of a new reality in Palestine.

  Suddenly, the cabin began to rattle, loosening some roof tiles. The table also began to shake, knocking over glasses and causing the Hookah pipes to topple over and crash down to the floor. The vibrations were caused by the approaching Apache helicopter which had reached its designated target. Before any of the terrorists had any idea of what was happening, a missile rammed into the cabin, blowing it up. As the Apache helicopter left the scene, a powdery, quantum particle cloud composed of vaporized human flesh and gaseous compounds consisting of evil spirits, mutated DNA, and very cheap building materials rose to the sky

  “Target BX6 has been eliminated. We’re heading back,” reported the pilot to the command room back at their base.

  “No resistance, we’ll keep you posted on any further developments.”

  “10-4, we’ll keep tracking you on your approach. Great work people. We’re proud of you,” replied Udi, who was on duty at the monitors back at the Organization headquarters.

  Chapter Four

  As soon as all the operatives arrived safely for at a secret location, Jezabilah opened the meeting. The focus was on motivating the members and assessing the future operations for Inkasar. The distribution of weapons was on the agenda, now that some substantial funds were readily available.

  “Jezabilah, what a terrible time this is for us,” said Tallulah, a young Inkasar member. Her revolutionary ethics were born out of her past experience: both her parents had been shot dead by Force 17 militants. Their crime was refusing to permit one of the militants to use their rooftop as a sniper position. Their intention was to target Israeli patrols during an incursion whose mission was to find an abducted soldier.

  “Terrible, yes, but at least now we’ll have some quiet. Now that the European observers are taking notes on what has been going on with the money they have been sending,” replied Jezabilah. “Hopefully, Hamas will lose its credibility,” she remarked. She kept a firm, positive outward attitude, as apprehensive as she might have felt deep down inside.

  “Palestine is a recognized state. It is up to us to build on a new, solid future,” she said, and anticipating the others’ reflections and beliefs about the situation she continued, “but only after we get rid of the leaders of our present corrupt government.”

  “We know exactly what they have in store for us. All they ever wanted has been control, but now they’ll have no more money to play with,” added Tallulah gleefully.

  “Thanks to the recent sting operations by the Israeli Organization’s special task squads,” inserted Jezabilah, “we’ll be able to provide for our people, raising their quality of life to a new level of existence firmly founded on human rights. We will succeed as long as we concentrate on our goals; to protect those among us who understand the true nature of the Palestinian dream,” she stated in a decisive voice. She saw that they all shared this hope by the gleam in their eyes.

  “By virtue of the laws which we will put forth, brotherhood will be rooted as a behavioral tenet for our society. We must stay on a fearless course; then and only then will we succeed in bringing forth the call of righteousness. Our planning has been intensely supported by the Israelis.” She scanned everyone’s expressions and sensed that her words were being clearly absorbed. These inspired members were clearly the hope for the future of Palestine.

  “We must draw our people together as a unified body. We must expose all the current and past evil leaders that have fed on our foundations and constantly trample our spirits. We must keep all Jihadists as far away as possible from our jurisdiction in order to maintain a functional society. We will keep the power in our hands and strive for peaceful coexistence with all free men, regardless of their race, creed, color or religious affiliations. There will be no room for militants, fanatics and radical Islamists in our midst. The ridiculous call to annihilate our neighbors and take their lands will cease. Human rights and personal freedom will be the key. The citizens of Palestine will be able to do as they wish, as long as their actions are based on peaceful, democratic principles. We will be a model nation for the rest of the Arab world to appreciate, admire and glorify.”

  They all nodded in agreement, as they remembered the atrocities committed by their present government, many of which they themselves had experienced firsthand. “There is no reason for us to be subjected to all this humility,” Jezabilah added vehemently. “Once we, the people of Palestine, fulfill the promise to really recognize Israel’s right to exist, there will be lasting peace between us.”

  Kareem, a tall, thin, young man in his thirties, was seated up front, close to Jezabilah. He was totally entranced by every word that came out of her mouth. His life had been infused with violence, hate and sorrow. His brother Mustafa had been killed assassination-style in the days when there was still outright conflict and a political split between Fattah and Hamas. Mustafa was one of a dozen Fattah supporters who had been murdered by Hamas militia. Surrounded by members of Hamas militia, their hands were tied behind their backs and they were then ordered to lay on the ground face down. They were executed by a minute-long spraying of bullets from automatic rifles.

  “When I heard from friends that our present leaders have been compiling personal bank accounts in Europe, and that most of the money by clergy all over the world is actually being pocketed by them, I realized that we must put an end to these corrupt, no-good bastards!” she said. Heads nodded in constant agreement. />
  Jezabilah continued, “It is important for us to know who we are, why we are doing all this, the kind of future we want for our children and their children’s children. We need to put an end to the atrocities that are being committed at the hands of our own people. I’ll never forget the gut feeling I had after reading the late Prime Minister of Israel Golda Meir’s comment about the plight between Israel and its Arab neighbors. She was a very wise woman who was a model for all women to realize that there was a place for them in making decisions on how to run a nation; both politically and inspirationally. She said, and I quote: “The only hope for peace between Israel and their neighbors will be when they, especially the Palestinians, will begin to love their children more than they hate us.”

  “The initiatives of the Inkasar organization are quite simple. We are sworn to the meaning of the word ‘Inkasar’, which is to dismantle the present government with its terrorist foundations and to accomplish our goals through positive action. Before you leave, you will receive your operation manuals. Learn the details, memorize them, then destroy them. You will be informed as to the next meeting place. Until next time, I pray that you will succeed. One could sense the excitement of the individual members as they went on their way.

  After the meeting, Jezabilah went to her apartment. She fell asleep while meditating on the future plans and wishing for the victories that were so long overdue. In her dream she envisioned a realm where she was free, without any harassment. She saw children playing in grass-covered playgrounds. Some were planting trees and others were caring for rows upon rows of vegetation. Looking around, she observed other children in the distance feeding and grooming animals like horses, goats, sheep and rabbits.

  The following summer day was a hot, smoldering one which somehow seemed to reflect the political tensions that had been brewing up that whole week in the Knesset. The Israeli government had just gone through a special session to deal with the renewed terrorist threats occurring on a daily basis. The assembly was filled with the usual, loud, demeaning words ringing out in the hall. This was a typical setting which required multiple calls to order for the rude members of the opposing parties. In other upsetting events, two Department of Interior officials with a high security profile were arrested and later found guilty on bribery charges and collaboration with Palestinian militants. The investigation connected them directly to the murders of two army munitions officers in the Galilee area. The officers had been killed during a break-in into some munitions warehouses, during which over 200 assorted weapons and cases of munitions were stolen. The items were smuggled over the Palestinian border and distributed immediately to the various radical groups who funded the breaches.