The Last Judgment (29 page)

“Not that I know of,” Will replied. “Of course, I'm still digging into that. But I think every one of them was an ideologue with a strong religious motivation. Whether or not they were also training as traditional terrorists, I really can't tell you…”

“Okay, well, a couple of other thoughts,” Michalany continued. “And these are just random. Based on typical criminal investigation analysis.” “We all know that security around the al-Aqsa Mosque was pretty high, as it normally is. It's a volatile place—probably the most sensitive place in the world in terms of the potential for violence or clashes between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Or for apocalyptic-type groups, like these Knights of the Temple Mount, to launch some kind of an attack. It all leads to one important question.”

“And what would that be?” Will asked.

“Just this—how did they get access to a totally Muslim-controlled area?”

“Well, one thing I've been thinking about,” Will responded. “It could have been an inside job. Someone who was a staffer with the Waqf, the Muslim trust that actually operates the Temple Mount platform. Though that seems to be unlikely. It raises the question, however, as to whether the Knights may have had special access to the area. But I'm not really sure how they could have that…”

“I've been thinking about that same thing,” Michalany replied. “I'm looking into the history of some of the attacks on the Temple Mount. Of course, they've been much smaller in nature. For instance, back in 1982, a fellow by the name of Yoel Lerner was convicted of conspiring to blow up the Dome of the Rock. He was caught before anything happened and put in jail for a couple of years. Also, in the same year, an Israeli soldier by the name of Alan Harry Goodman, a U.S. immigrant, went on a shooting spree on the Mount. He was able to kill one person and wound a couple others. But there wasn't a massive loss of life. He was stopped cold before that. Which then leads me to wonder…”

“About what?”

“Well, the fact that there have been no successful large-scale attacks till now. Due, really, to two things. First of all, Israeli security. They're able to intercept most of the crazies before they get too far. And then, of course, the Arabs scrutinize everyone who
gets up there. So those are the two gatekeepers that have kept anything really terrible from happening in the past. Obviously, those two gatekeepers failed.”

“You have any theories on why that happened?” Will asked, now stopping his note-taking and listening intently to his consulting expert.

“Just a few thoughts.”

“Such as?”

“Well, they had to evade Israeli intelligence, the Jerusalem police department, and the IDF, as well as the Mossad. Then there's the engineering of the bombing itself, as I said before—very sophisticated. They had to have money, power, technical information. Where did that come from? Then there's something else.”

“Oh?”

“Yes—access to the Temple Mount, exactly as you said. Maybe the people who got into the area and planted the explosives were Arabs—maybe even Muslims, or former Muslims, themselves. Just a thought.”

But it was a thought that made Will's blood run a little cold.

“And of course,” Michalany continued, “your guy is an Arab.”

“Yeah,” Will acknowledged. “You and all the world know that. And worse is his being a former Muslim himself. A Shiite. The news media's been having a field day with that.”

“I guess you got some things to ask your boy,” Michalany said, trying to be casual. “Like the extent of his travels in the Jerusalem area, prior to the day that the bombing took place.”

“I already know the answer to that,” Will said reluctantly. “Last year he traveled to Jerusalem and spent some time there.”

There was a pause on the line.

“And I'm sure you're going to ask him,” Michalany added, “just what he did then…”

Michalany didn't need to say any more.

Will wondered—whether his client had traveled to the Temple Mount. Whether he had attempted to get, or had actually been
granted, access. Whether he had viewed the inside of the al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock.

Those kinds of scouting activities were typical with every terrorist organization planning an attack.

It was clear to Will that he would soon have to pose these questions to his client, eyeball to eyeball.

And that had to be sooner rather than later.

43

I
F THIS HAD BEEN A FENCING MATCH
, the opponents had yet to uncork the tips of their foils.

Warren Mullburn was seated with his chief of staff at a conference table in the offices of the Israeli Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem.

The deputy foreign minister and his staff assistant, seated across the table, had been courteous enough. The Israeli minister had exchanged pleasantries with Mullburn, offering him coffee or tea. He asked about Mullburn's prior trips to Jerusalem and his work for the Republic of Maretas.

But when the Israelis brought up the rumors about Mullburn's efforts to build a global business alliance among multinational corporations, the conversation took a sharp turn.

“Rather than discuss my private interests in promoting global free trade,” the billionaire said, “I would much rather get to the point of my visit.”

He whispered something to his chief of staff, who then smiled, nodded, and quickly excused himself from the room.

“I've asked my assistant to give us some privacy,” Mullburn said, eyeing the Israeli staff assistant, “as we have matters of great sensitivity to discuss.”

The deputy minister hesitated for a moment before following suit. Mullburn had engaged in early gamesmanship. And the Israeli minister had been ordered by the prime minister, at least
in the initial meeting, to play along. He motioned to his assistant, who quickly exited.

“I do thank you for meeting with me,” Mullburn continued, “particularly in view of the fact—at least in some diplomatic quarters—I'm viewed as a neophyte. An interloper in the Middle East peace process. But my only concern is peace. I think perhaps that bringing a fresh, original approach may be a benefit rather than a detriment…”

The Israeli minister smiled, still simply listening.

“To be direct with you,” Mullburn said, “I have been warned by some…about Israel's current posture.”

“And what posture would that be?”

“Regarding the issue of the Temple Mount.”

“And specifically…what aspect of the Temple Mount?”

“A report that has come to my attention—I don't give it any credence, of course—but we need to have the air cleared of any lingering questions…”

“About what?”

“Our intelligence agency has picked up a report—unconfirmed, of course—that Israel had certain information about the Knights of the Temple Mount. Information regarding that group prior to the bombings.”

“I can assure you,” the deputy minister replied, “that every day Israeli intelligence is the recipient of information regarding literally hundreds of organizations—terrorist groups, religious organizations, business concerns, and other entities that may or may not necessarily pose a security risk to our national interests…both within our borders and abroad.”

“Certainly,” Mullburn replied courteously. “The business of intelligence is to gather intelligence…to analyze the credibility of risk…to identify the most likely sources of aggression against national interests…but the information I received involved significantly more than that.”

“And what did that information tell you?”

“That Israel had not only identified the Knights as an apocalyptic, religiously motivated group of radicals—but had also uncovered the fact that the Knights were planning an imminent attack on the Mount.”

“I cannot, of course, speak for our intelligence agencies,” the Israeli official responded calmly, “but I will be sure to pass that information on to the responsible people within our government. I'm sure there is absolutely nothing to the report you heard.”

“I certainly hope not,” Mullburn said slowly and deliberately, “for Israel's sake…”

“And how would you like me to interpret that statement?” The deputy minister had a slight edge of irritation in his voice.

“Simply this,” came the curt reply. “I must know the parties I may be negotiating with.”

“We have not yet decided that you will be the negotiator—or mediator—between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.”

“Oh, I think I will be. I do believe that Israel will see the wisdom of entering into a process utilizing my services as a mediator.”

“And why are you so confident of that?”

“Because, unlike the United States, or the United Nations, or the European Union, or others involved in previous failed and blundered attempts to settle the Israeli–Palestinian problem, I come from a very small island republic that has no inherent or historical loyalties—or any indelibly vested interests for that matter.”

“I'm listening.”

“And therefore,” Mullburn concluded, “I would have no interest in portraying Israel as a complicit co-conspirator in the massacre of Muslims on the Temple Mount.”

His opponent's sheer audacity stunned the deputy minister. He blinked, then leaned slightly forward toward Mullburn, carefully calculating his words before he responded.

“Your characterization…even stated as a theoretical…or as pure speculation…is outrageous. It is unacceptable. And it is
unilaterally rejected by Israel. Furthermore, it presents me with a rather unpleasant scenario.”

“And that would be?”

“I see someone who wants to be a negotiating partner in the peace process, but whose first step involves slandering the nation of Israel.”

“You need to face up to the political realities,” Mullburn snapped back. “You've got a new president in the White House. And she will not cater to Israel as past presidents have done. The United Nations is losing patience with your country. And I'm here to work out a practical solution, without escalating the stakes by exposing Israel's possible complicity in the Temple Mount incident.”

“That sounds like blackmail to me.”

“No. To the contrary. It is diplomatic pragmatism. I'm here to bang out an agreement. I'm telling you I have no interest in exposing any wrongdoing by Israel. In return, Israel needs to show some initial trust in my mediating capabilities. You're taking this very personally. This is not personal. This is strictly business.”

“The Temple Mount incident is not a bargaining chip. It is not a part of the process. Your implications about Israel's complicity in it are very troubling, at a minimum. I reject them. And one more thing…”

“Yes?”

“If Israel has unilaterally refused over the years to negotiate with terrorists, what makes you think we would negotiate with a blackmailer?”

“Oh,” Mullburn said with a slightly ironic tone, “Israel doesn't negotiate with terrorists?”

“That's what I said.”

“Well—think back a few years. Your prime minister negotiates the release of a huge number of Palestinian prisoners in return for an Israeli businessman and paltry concessions. On the very day of the exchange, a Palestinian suicide bomber detonates himself,
killing several Israelis. And you have the audacity to say that Israel has not negotiated with terrorists? Who's being naïve now?”

The Israeli knew this initial meeting with Warren Mullburn would have to be brought to a speedy conclusion. And as soon as the other man left the building, the deputy foreign minister would contact the defense minister, the ranking intelligence officers in the Mossad, and perhaps even the prime minister.

If Mullburn's assertions about Israel's prior knowledge of, and acquiescence in, the terrorist plans of the Knights of the Temple Mount were even remotely close to being true, an immediate decision was at hand.

In that event, Israel would have to decide whether it wished to take on just Warren Mullburn. Or whether it was willing to take on the rest of the world as well.

44

T
INY
H
EFTLAND HAD
disappointing news.

“The Israelis are simply not talking about this case,” he said gloomily over the phone. “I tried everything I could. Pulled every lever. Contacted everyone I knew—I was name-dropping like I was trying to crash a Hollywood cocktail party.”

“You got absolutely no information from the Israeli government about their investigation into the bombings?”

“They just told me I had to check with the Palestinian Authority—that they were the ones prosecuting the case.”

“I was really banking on the Israeli government giving me access to some of their reports,” Will said with disappointment in his voice.

“Well, there
was
something I got…but not really connected to your case,” Tiny said.