“From a national perspective, it would be correct to treat the Mombasa attack (on the Arkia plane) as if it had ended in true disaster, and examine our new reality as if a terror attack of enormous proportions has been perpetrated against Israel…” said Efraim Halevy, head of the National Security Council, and immediate past head of the Mossad, speaking at Monday’s opening session of the third Herzliya Conference on the Balance of Israel’s National Security.
He went on to say, “When terror acts of such magnitude succeed, rules of conduct and operation change immediately. The meaning of this emerging threat amounts to genocide against the state of Israel, and the destruction of our nation’s basic principles…Against such a threat Israel possesses a wide and diverse range of abilities, which are best left undisclosed prematurely.”
He addressed the state of national security in accordance with the primary parameters which the State of Israel now faces:
“In times like these, weighing the national security balance cannot be performed periodically. We must engage in such a balance as part of a continuous, ongoing process and try to review the balance whenever current events alter the strategic landscape, within or outside the Nation’s boundaries…The political echelon is our primary objective, they, above all others, are entitled to examine the products of our work, and use it before it becomes public.”
Halevy also referred to Russia, pointing out that an infrastructure for security and intelligence cooperation between Israel and Russia has been formed. Regarding Europe, Halevy said: “It would not be right to end this session without referring to Europe and its influence over Israel’s balance of national security. On this issue, it is appropriate to differentiate between the collective voice of Europe and the actual policies of key mainland countries towards Israel”. There are countries in Europe whose demands towards the PA are similar to those of Israel itself. Relationships cultivated with those countries should also be based on the extensive economic cooperation between us, said Halevy.
Commenting on the economic crisis and recession in Israel, Halevy said: “Israel’s unemployment crisis is critical, because, amongst other things, it has direct bearings on our national security. A 10% unemployment rate, or more, should serve as a warning signal.”