On this episode of Intelligence Issues, host Michael Morell speaks with Zohar Palti, former senior Mossad officer and head of the Israeli Protection Forces' Political-Army Bureau, about his profession, Israel's strategy to the Iran nuclear subject and Tehran's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Palti shares his views on the worth of intelligence to key determination factors in Israel's historic nationwide safety decisions and the bond between the Mossad and CIA. He additionally discusses the present prime threats to Israel at this time.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Israel's strategy to Ukraine: "I believe that not in each safety subject that is taking place on the planet Israel needs to be within the focus. We've to do no matter we will as a way to assist from a humanitarian standpoint to the Ukrainians; they're buddies of ours and we ship medical assist and we ship helmets and we ship so many different humanitarian help. And it appears to me that we should always proceed to do issues like that... I am relying on NATO. I am relying on you guys. I am relying on all of the European nations which can be doing so many issues and good ones, over right here. And we'll deal with our enterprise over right here within the neighborhood. And we now have a tough neighborhood."
- The Abraham Accords: "I am so completely happy as a safety man to see that the before everything was to ascertain the civilian facet, the business flights, the personal sector and issues like that. And solely then got here the ministry of protection and all the opposite ones. It appears to me we're constructing it proper. It is peace between the folks with an open coronary heart and open thoughts."
- Putting Iran? "It isn't that we're on the lookout for to assault someone. The one issues that we care is about our household, the existence of Israel, the protection of our kids, and, in fact, the steadiness within the area. So long as we do not see an imminent risk prefer it was once in 2011-12, we'll say at all times let's give an opportunity to different choices.
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INTELLIGENCE MATTERS - ZOHAR PALTI
PRODUCER: OLIVIA GAZIS
MICHAEL MORELL: Zohar, welcome to Intelligence Issues. It's at all times good to speak to you. And it is nice to get you on the podcast. I am actually enthusiastic about our dialog. So thanks very a lot for becoming a member of us.
ZOHAR PALTI: Thanks a lot for having me. It is nice to be right here and thanks a lot, Michael.
MICHAEL MORELL: So Zohar, I wish to spend a little bit little bit of time speaking about your profession after which we'll get into to some substantive points for the remainder of the dialogue.
However I wish to begin together with your profession. You joined the Israeli Protection Forces as an 18-year-old and also you in a short time change into an intelligence officer. And I am questioning if changing into an intelligence officer was one thing that the IDF selected for you, or was it one thing that you just raised your hand and mentioned, 'I wish to be an intelligence officer?' How did that work?
ZOHAR PALTI: In order a matter of reality, I began within the Military, in fact, and as you mentioned, fairly after a really brief time, they determined that it is higher that I transfer to the intelligence course. And I used to be a few months as a easy soldier, after which I went to an officer course. After one and a half 12 months I used to be an officer, intelligence officer within the northern entrance when all of the IDF used to spend in Lebanon, it was like '84.
And since then I am within the intelligence - a mixture of the navy intelligence and naturally the Mossad afterward. And that is it.
MICHAEL MORELL: So Zohar you spend practically 1 / 4 century, a little bit bit lower than 1 / 4 century as an intelligence officer within the IDF. And clearly, a lot, a lot occurred in these 25 years - two intifadas with the Palestinians, a number of wars in Lebanon in opposition to the PLO and in opposition to Hezbollah, wars in Gaza in opposition to Hamas. Questioning in case you can share any recollections of your time within the IDF with our listeners?
ZOHAR PALTI: I believe the era that, like me, that was recruited to the Military at '82, was very a lot underneath the affect of our staying in Lebanon for 17 or 18 years, and the truth that we needed to serve over there and because of former Prime Minister Ehud Barak that took us out in 2000. That is one milestone for my navy service.
And the opposite one, in fact, is because the CT chief within the navy intelligence, the second intifada. It was horrible to have, like, dozens of suicide assaults in a democratic nation like us in the principle cities like Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Hadera and all the opposite ones. That was a defining second for us.
2007, the assault on the Syrian nuclear reactor - I believe that is the principle milestones that I can draw proper now.
MICHAEL MORELL: You truly, Zohar, you truly hung out in Lebanon. Is that appropriate?
ZOHAR PALTI: Yeah, I used to be an intelligence officer of an infantry brigade, the Golani Brigade, and I used to be the deputy intelligence officer of the Northern Division of Israel that unfold everywhere in the Lebanese border. And I served in different operational models within the navy intelligence. I spent loads of time in Lebanon.
MICHAEL MORELL: So Zohar, in 2006, in the midst of that Second Lebanon conflict, someone named Meir Dagan, who we'll come again to in a second, then the director of Mossad, brings you to Mossad to run the counterterrorism division within the intelligence department.
Then Meir makes you the pinnacle of the Strategic Evaluation Division in Mossad. After which Tamir Pardo, who's the successor director to Meir Dagan, nominates you to be the director of intelligence, the particular person in command of the entire evaluation at Mossad.
And that is the place you and I actually labored intently collectively throughout my time as head of study at CIA after which because the deputy director. And I might like to ask you a few questions on that time frame.
The primary is simply to speak a little bit bit about Meir Dagan, who I met many instances, and I actually discovered to be a exceptional man. So I am simply questioning in case you may discuss Meir a little bit bit.
ZOHAR PALTI: Positive. Little doubt that Meir was a exceptional man. And primarily, he was a commander. He cherished the folks. He got here from the Military, was once a significant normal within the Israeli military. After which Prime Minister Sharon nominated him to be the director of Mossad.
Dagan thought the spirit, before everything, is the folks. And also you, Michael, as former DI, you perceive how essential is the folks - truly those which can be doing the job. They're those which can be main the group. And Meir gave them a lot respect. Used to take a seat with all of the analysts like 2 hours each week to hearken to them, to debate with them as equals. That is one.
Second subject, Dagan gave the precedence to the Mossad. Before everything, counterproliferation and primarily the Iranian subject. And the second subject is counterterrorism, to foil any try to harm, in fact, Israelis and Jewish everywhere in the world and in Israel, and, in fact, to assist to our allies and a few pleasant nation in any other case.
And we have executed a exceptional job. All of the intelligence providers main by Dagan. Dagan was a person of his phrase. He was braveness sufficient, not solely within the battlefield, it was braveness sufficient as a way to say precisely what he thought in closed rooms, whether or not the politician or the choice makers prefer it or whether or not not. And little question a very, actually spectacular man.
MICHAEL MORELL: Meir was there on the start of the state of Israel, wasn't he?
ZOHAR PALTI: Meir - as a matter of reality, there was a really well-known image in his workplace of a kid that's elevating his palms, a Jewish, in fact, through the Holocaust. And Dagan gave us the sense - he was an immigrant from East Europe, and he gave us the sense, 'Guys, by no means once more.'
And that is what he advised me was essential - to forestall for a rustic like Iran, for instance, a rustic which can be saying that they wish to remove the state of Israel. The slogan was, 'By no means once more,' and the Mossad - his standpoint was that the Mossad needed to lead all their efforts as a way to foil the Iranian makes an attempt to get their nuclear and navy nuclear capabilities.
And this week, yesterday it was the memorial for the Holocaust over right here. And little question that the legacy that Dagan gave us on this subject remains to be right here.
MICHAEL MORELL: So Zohar, I believe that is a fantastic transition to the second query I needed to ask you about throughout your time as director of intelligence at Mossad, and that is the Iranian nuclear program, one thing you and I labored very intently on.
Through the time we have been engaged on it in 2010, 2011, 2012, the Iranians have been transferring quickly ahead on uranium enrichment, increasing their program, deepening their sophistication.
And also you have been the senior intelligence analyst, Israeli intelligence analyst within the room for discussions about whether or not Israel ought to assault Iran's nuclear program in 2011, 2012.
And I might love in case you may speak a little bit bit about how shut Israel truly got here throughout that interval to attacking Iran. And speak a little bit bit concerning the function of intelligence in that dialogue and the way essential it was.
ZOHAR PALTI: To begin with, you understand, Israel is a democratic nation and by regulation, we're underneath the instruction of the Israeli authorities. Till the Israeli authorities will not be taking the choice, the tradition in Israel is saying that in a closed room, the intelligence neighborhood will not be solely allowed, however should say no matter they suppose.
And my job in that room because the director of intelligence was to crystallize a whole lot and dozens of hours [of] inside discussions with my analysts and with the professionals within the Mossad, and within the intelligence neighborhood throughout Israel, and to attempt to crystallize the underside line to the choice makers, whether or not that is the proper time to do it or not.
We was once very shut as a result of we obtained an instruction again then from our determination makers to organize ourselves. And we did. However on the similar time, there have been discussions on a regular basis whether or not we should always do it or not.
And based mostly on the intel that again then we used to have, we knew that the Iranians are doing fairly an excellent job relating to the enrichment program - and again then they've a number of of SQs, in case you keep in mind.
However on the similar time, we did not have any indication that they are truly attempting to construct the bomb. And we mentioned that so long as they don't seem to be truly weaponizing and haven't got what we name the weaponized group that orchestrates all of the elements collectively, we should always wait with it. And this isn't the proper second to do it. Proper now, a decade after it, I can say that in all probability the intel was proper again then.
MICHAEL MORELL: And Zohar, is it protected to say that intelligence was an important issue within the decision-making of the prime minister and the remainder of the safety cupboard at the moment?
ZOHAR PALTI: I believe much more, that the intelligence was an important one. By the way in which, at all times within the Israeli system, the intelligence is essential. Any assembly, any gathering, [is] beginning at all times with the intel image, whether or not it is a tactical one or whether or not it is a strategic one, and the change or the issues that aren't altering in the whole image are a part of the dialogue on the proper second, once we are doing the gathering with our policymakers.
And I believe it was essential and the intel [was] very, very a lot influential relating to the difficulty, whether or not to do it or not. And I've so as to add one thing greater than that: it is nice that we now have shut buddies and allies such as you, Michael, and with the company and I do know with different companions that we now have in Europe that we will share so many issues collectively; it is so essential to all of us.
MICHAEL MORELL: Zohar, only one extra profession query. You completed your profession as the pinnacle of the political-military bureau of Israel's Ministry of Protection. What took you there? After which what is the function of the Ministry of Protection's political-military bureau? What was your job?
ZOHAR PALTI: In American phrases, it is a very it is like equal - not within the scale, in fact, America may be very a lot greater than us - to the place of the Undersecretary for Coverage within the Pentagon. Which means every thing relating to the coverage of the minister of protection was underneath my portfolio, and, in fact, to maintain the connection and connection, before everything, that we now have in the USA of America and primarily with the Pentagon, as a result of our minister of protection is working with DoD and naturally, with the American Military, CENTCOM, UCOMM, all the opposite ones, and all the opposite ministers of protection. In different phrases you are the one that's holding the connection, protecting the strategic dialogues and issues like that.
That is the portfolio of this job if I am attempting to crystallize that. And naturally, the perfect factor that I had over the last two years is to implement the Abraham Accords. And this can be a game-changer, and to ascertain a central protection relationship between us and the Arab nations, which means primarily the Gulf, and naturally, the People.
MICHAEL MORELL: So, Zohar, is it protected to say that the Abraham Accords took the connection between Israel and a number of the Gulf nations from the safety realm, which it had been rising, into the political realm and into the general public realm. Is that a truthful assertion?
ZOHAR PALTI: It is precisely, precisely the way you phrase it. It is so stunning. And this time we discovered the lesson from - I believe we're attempting to study the lesson from a number of the errors that we have executed with Egypt and Jordan many years in the past.
And I am so completely happy as a safety man to see that the before everything was to ascertain the civilian facet, the business flights, the personal sector and issues like that. And solely then got here the ministry of protection and all the opposite ones. It appears to me we're constructing it proper. It is peace between the folks with an open coronary heart and open thoughts.
It is actually superb to see what number of direct flights we now have proper now to Marrakesh and to Karzai and to, in fact, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It is actually, for a man like me to land with an airplane, with the flag of Israel on the tail - and lots of, a few years it was touchdown in these locations, not precisely with the Israeli flags.
It is nice and we're very proud about it and we're grateful to our prime minister again then that used to do it, in fact, to the People for president and primarily the braveness that the Arab leaders, primarily the UAE guys and the Bahrainis and the People took very, very daring choices. And it appears to me it is nice.
MICHAEL MORELL: So, Zohar, I wish to flip to some extra substantive points right here. And the primary one I wish to ask you about is Israel's strategy to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. There's been some criticism of Israel's reluctance to not extra strongly rebuke Russia. Are you able to type of put that into context for us?
ZOHAR PALTI: To begin with, there isn't any phrases to specific how devastating the state of affairs is. And, in fact, that each individual that sees no matter is occurring in Ukraine, you may't ignore from that. And it is actually devastating.
However on the similar instances, you need to perceive that Israel is in a singular place. On one hand, we now have so many balls within the air proper now. It is the final days of Ramadan, the place two days earlier than the independence, two days in the past, three days in the past, there had been a rocket that was launched from Lebanon.
On the similar time, I heard within the information that there was a courtesy go to of some air power in Syria coping with the Iranians and Hezbollah targets. Concurrently, we now have some rigidity proper now within the Temple Mount. On the similar time, we now have a problem from Gaza.
I believe that not in each safety subject that is taking place on the planet Israel needs to be within the focus. We've to do no matter we will as a way to assist from a humanitarian standpoint to the Ukrainians; they're buddies of ours and we ship medical assist and we ship helmets and we ship so many different humanitarian help. And it appears to me that we should always proceed to do issues like that.
However look, every thing ought to be judged, whether or not it is navy help, this one or one other. I am relying on NATO. I am relying on you guys. I am relying on all of the European nations which can be doing so many issues and good ones, over right here. And we'll deal with our enterprise over right here within the neighborhood. And we now have a tough neighborhood.
MICHAEL MORELL: Zohar, I wish to spend most of our time on Iran. Let me begin by asking you concerning the risk that Iran poses to Israel. How do you see that risk?
ZOHAR PALTI: To begin with, there's the Iranian folks and there's the Iranian regime. With the Iranian folks, as you understand, we now have a protracted historical past and we now have nothing in opposition to the Iranian folks. And I hope that they do not don't have anything in opposition to us. And as we are saying over right here within the neighborhood, 'Inshallah,' someday we'll come again to be buddies of them.
The principle drawback proper now could be the way in which the Iranian, this regime, they're actually fanatics. And I spoke earlier relating to the Holocaust, the Memorial Day that we simply have a day in the past, and Israel won't ever enable any nation all over the world to threaten our existential and our rights to dwell freely in Israel.
And the Iranian regime pose[s] a fundamental drawback to Israel by saying that he needs to remove the state of Israel out of the map. We take it personally. And we now have a legacy, as I mentioned earlier than, 'By no means once more.' And we had two prime ministers in our historical past that paved the way in which for us with our doctrine.
First one was again in '81, with the Osirak reactor in Iraq. The second was Prime Minister Olmert in 2007 with the Syrian nuclear reactor. And if Iran would problem us, we all know precisely what we now have to do. That is relating to the nuclear subject.
The opposite subject that's, in fact, the regional one, and the truth that the Iranians are behind so many terrorist assaults within the final two or three many years. About you as an American in Iraq, in Afghanistan, so many lives of your folks, they took.
They're difficult proper now, your allies and our buddies within the Gulf. September 14 assault in 2019 in opposition to the Saudis [was] a vicious one. They're serving to the Houthis. They're serving to the Shia militias in Iraq. They're utilizing surface-to-surface missiles, cruise missiles, UAVs. Iran is destabilizing the area.
And over right here, that is the principle drawback that we now have with Iran proper now. In case you take [out] the Iranian subject and the Iranian aggression from the area, it appears to me that everyone, primarily the Arab nations, could be completely happy.
MICHAEL MORELL: Zohar, I might like to ask you, the Biden administration is negotiating with the Iranians on a doable return to the 2015 nuclear settlement. These negotiations have been on once more, off once more. I'm wondering what your view is about whether or not we should always return to that settlement or not, and why.
ZOHAR PALTI: To begin with, it appears to me that the People have their very own coverage as a way to determine what's [in] the American curiosity and whatnot. I do not suppose that I am ready to say to the People what to suppose and what to do.
I can replicate the Israeli perspective on that matter. And we return to the settlement in 2013 and 2015 - the intermediate settlement after which the ultimate settlement in 2015.
Again then in 2013 - and I believe you have been again then within the enterprise. In 2011, '12, you have executed nice. The sanctions used to work fantastically. And the Iranians used to lose between $60 to $80 billion a 12 months. And we got here to you again then and we mentioned, 'Guys, we're not in opposition to an settlement or one thing like that, nevertheless it ought to be an excellent settlement, and an excellent settlement - Do not rush into it.'
And I believe it was again then a mistake to offer the Iranians superior centrifuges. Again then to make use of to have solely the IR-1 and solely the beginning of the IR-2. The settlement gave them the permission, or the authority, to hurry centrifuge of the IR-4, IR-6 and IR-8. That is eight instances and ten instances sooner than the IR-1s.
And proper now, not so a few years after the settlement, the Iranians are, sadly, in a fairly spectacular achievement relating to the enrichment program. And this isn't - for them, it isn't a bottleneck anymore.
This administration, when it got here, you spoke about [a] 'longer and stronger' settlement. I do not see [it] proper now, not longer and never stronger. And it appears to me that we now have loads of query marks - and I do not know all the main points, that is why I do not know to let you know whether or not it is a good one or unhealthy one or one thing like that. However little question that we now have some query mark relating to whether or not [they are] keen to compromise about a few of these points.
The opposite one is the Iranians are dragging their ft. And for the final couple of months, we see that Iran [is] taking benefit, that this negotiation is stretching. And we're in a state of affairs that I am unsure that I like what I see proper now.
MICHAEL MORELL: Zohar, how's Iran totally different, how's the area totally different in a world in which there's an settlement, and in a world wherein there is not an settlement? I do know it is a robust query.
ZOHAR PALTI: Yeah, that is a tricky one. However definitely if I am attempting to offer you knowledgeable reply, I do not see proper now one thing substantial relating to the area - not talking proper now concerning the nuclear program - concerning the area that can make the distinction. Which means, the Iranians [are] aggressive with agreements and with out agreements.
The Iranians are utilizing the Houthis in Yemen and the Iranian and utilizing the Iraqi territory as a way to compromise the safety of the area over right here. In fact, in Syria. In fact, in Lebanon, with Hezbollah; the Iranians proper now, [are] doing critical terrorist assaults and difficult and compromising the safety everywhere in the Center East.
I am unsure -and over right here it is [an] understatement - that having an settlement with the Iranians restricted them. Quite the opposite, we all know that the settlement will not be about to the touch these points. So I am unsure that there's a huge distinction relating to the area. Sadly, I am saying it.
MICHAEL MORELL: So Zohar I perceive the regional level and I agree with it 100%. What about on the nuclear entrance? What is the distinction when it comes to the event of Iran's nuclear program, nuclear weapons program, between a deal and no deal?
ZOHAR PALTI: Once more, I am unsure that I do know all the main points as a result of proper now nothing [is]revealed but.
I will provide the finest state of affairs: the perfect state of affairs, that if we now have 'longer and stronger,' if the worldwide neighborhood have the flexibility by way of the IAEA to observe Iran 24/7, with all of the technological measures that we now have at this time in 2022, that the inspection can come to whichever facet they need, to observe 24/7, to cope with open recordsdata - all these points, we now have to handle them.
If the settlement is about to offer all these points, it appears to me it is fairly good. However based mostly on what we perceive in the meanwhile, I am unsure that we now have a solution for all of this.
If there might be an settlement - and I actually doubt [it] on the time being, however then once more, let's wait and see - it is speculated to cease the enrichment progress of the Iranians. And proper now they're spinning centrifuges and enriching to 60% and naturally, to three.5. And I hope that each one the fabric will exit, and that is good.
However on the similar time, I've to be very involved relating to the truth that this settlement, even when it will likely be signed 5 minutes from now, there's a sense over right here and in like a number of of years from now, in 2026 after which in '35, nearly all bets are off.
And if we expect that an settlement would give us a way that the Iranian subject is behind us - no. Even when there's an settlement, the day after afterwards, we should always proceed to cope with it and to observe it and to see that Iran aren't any extra violating every thing.
And I doubt it, as a result of at all times the Iranians used to attempt to deceive. We noticed it within the archive. We noticed it in different points. The Iranians are doing actually unhealthy issues relating to the nuclear subject.
MICHAEL MORELL: So, Zohar, you have been in opposition to attacking Iran in 2012, however you are not in opposition to ever attacking Iran. Is that protected to say?
ZOHAR PALTI: It isn't that we're trying to assault someone. The one issues that we care is about our household, the existence of Israel, the protection of our kids, and, in fact, the steadiness within the area.
So long as we do not see an imminent risk prefer it was once in 2011, 12, we'll say at all times, 'Let's give an opportunity to different choices.' And even at this time I might say the identical.
However, on the similar time, once we're coming to the second that we'll perceive that in two months, three months, two weeks or one thing like that, from the time that someday - I hope that's not present - goes to jeopardize our existence, we should function.
There is no such thing as a doubt. I spoke earlier than concerning the legacy of again in '91 relating to Iraq, 2007 in Syria, and if we now have to do it a 3rd time, we're keen to do it. Whether or not we're on the lookout for that, whether or not it is a should - No, I believe that there's a lot of room to the worldwide neighborhood to do loads of issues as a way to do it.
And proper now, it appears to me the worldwide neighborhood, after so many months that they gave a lot room to this negotiation, that the Iranians proper now give chilly shoulder to the worldwide neighborhood, it is about the best way to stretch the sanctions, to tighten them, and to offer the Iranians the sense, 'Guys, what you see proper now, it is children' stuff in comparison with what we now have the flexibility to do.'
MICHAEL MORELL: Zohar, in a few minutes we now have left right here, I'm wondering in case you would possibly wish to remark a little bit bit concerning the CIA. You spent loads of time working with the group. Would simply love your ideas on the company.
ZOHAR PALTI: I might be a bit emotional over right here, as a result of hardly ever I've an opportunity to reply a query like that.
And you understand, to be the CT chief of my group with you guys, I at all times used to have the honour to see you after September 11 and what you have executed everywhere in the world with the worldwide conflict on terrorism.
And I believe you've got actual heroes within the companies that gave so many hope and guarded nearly the whole world from al-Qaida and the worldwide jihad phenomena.
And your group deserves a lot credit score for saving so many lives. And I do know that I am talking for myself, however I do know that lots of people over in Israel owes you, and, in fact, folks over right here within the area, primarily Arab nations are obliged and actually many, many due to your folks.
It was once a hell of a job with counterterrorism. And not too long ago, I've to offer the credit score to your intelligence neighborhood - I believe it is greater than your company, I believe it is different companies as properly, however since you ask concerning the company - the truth that folks used to offer such a superb intel image about what's speculated to be with the invasion to Ukraine. I imply, within the final 12 months, it wasn't the primary precedence of nobody. And nonetheless, it was exceptional intel image. Good job.
MICHAEL MORELL: So, Zohar, two final questions from me. One is, I wish to ask you what you see as the largest risk to the way forward for Israel.
ZOHAR PALTI: That is a tricky one. And I'll say one thing not pure to me: I do not suppose that we now have one thing existential proper now from the skin.
In case you ask me and also you squeeze me, I am far more involved about our inside issues, the truth that we see a lot variety among the many Israelis. Not loads of tolerance amongst ourselves. We must be far more respectful to one another. And if it is not going to work at all times like as a primary, and to grasp that we now have no different place to go, and that on the finish of the day, we're caught with one another, it doesn't matter what our political level of views and issues like that.
We are able to overcome and face, once more, any problem from the skin. And I believe that is the principle concern that loads of us have over right here, how we we're bridging the gaps between ourselves.
MICHAEL MORELL: Boy, I've precisely the identical concern about my very own nation.
So the final query, Zohar - we now have lots of people from the intelligence neighborhood, notably analysts, who hearken to this program. And we now have loads of school college students who additionally hearken to this system who wish to be intelligence analysts.
And I simply wish to in a short time ask you, because you spent a lot time doing this, what makes an excellent intelligence analyst?
ZOHAR PALTI: The analyst, I believe an excellent one, it is an individual that depend on deep data on what the topic that he's accountable. You must be curious. Typically you need to be uncertain. You must learn loads. Very first thing within the morning, you need to learn; very last thing earlier than going to sleep, you need to learn.
He is the person. There is no such thing as a second, second one to him within the data on the topic that he's accountable. He needs to be completely dedicated to the trigger.
I believe he needs to be with the inventive pondering and operational one as properly. To translate the intel into operations. He needs to be [versed] from the tactical points to the strategic ones, that if there's a query to this analyst, he's the person you need to give the solutions, whether or not it is tactical or whether or not it is a strategic level.
You must know the intelligence neighborhood inside his personal nation and primarily exterior with companions and buddies. You must evaluate notes with them. And to not be afraid to say: 'Quite the opposite.' It is greater than to not be afraid. He needs to be braveness[ous] sufficient to say precisely his skilled opinion in closed rooms and to offer suggestions to the coverage makers relating to coverage.
In Israel, we do not have downtown. We do not have one thing like that. We, from lieutenant, have to offer our advice to the decision-makers, even when it is coverage points.
MICHAEL MORELL: Zohar, that is incredible. Thanks a lot for becoming a member of us. It has been an actual honor to have you ever on the present. And it is at all times a particular pleasure of mine to talk with you.
ZOHAR PALTI: Thanks. Thanks a lot for inviting me. It is nice to be right here. And actually, the perfect to everyone.