Former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo

October 13 2020 — Tamir Pardo (born 1953) is the former Director of the Mossad, taking over the role from Meir Dagan on 1st January 2011. He was succeeded by Yossi Cohen on 5 January 2016. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today.

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The most pressing threat to Israel is not Iran, but rather the increased polarization within Israeli society, former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo said in a rare public appearance since leaving office.

“There is no outside existential threat to Israel, the only real existential threat is internal division.”

“Internal division can lead us to civil war – we are already on a path toward that. If a society crosses a certain line in its division and hatred, it is a real possibility to see a phenomenon like a civil war.”

“Society at large bears responsibility to prevent these divisions, not just the leadership.”

During the event, Pardo criticized both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Defense Ministry.

[Pardo participated in Operation Entebbe during which his commanding officer Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu —  the elder brother to current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — was killed.]

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly hailed improved diplomatic relations with moderate Arab countries in the region, Pardo stated that:

“Without a diplomatic solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we will never be able to achieve normalization with our Arab neighbors.”

The Defense Ministry has compared the deal between the six world powers and Iran to curb Tehran’s nuclear program with the 1938 Munich agreement that allowed Nazi Germany to annex portions of Czechoslovakia.

Pardo does not appear to agree.

“You can’t compare squash and grapes. What happened a century ago is different from what is occurring today. History does not repeat itself.”

Tamir Pardo on Balancing Liberty and Security

From the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum on May 3 2016, “ISIS, Israel, and Spymasters: A Reality Check” featuring a conversation between Michael Morell, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and Tamir Pardo, former Director of the Mossad.

The event was moderated by Belfer Center Director Graham Allison.

“We have to preserve, I think, our democracy and be ready even to pay quite a high price for that.

I think it’s better to suffer from their, let’s say, behavior, than to ruin our own society and the things that we believe in.”

Tamir Pardo on the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action 

Pardo has been very critical of the Trump’s administration for its policy towards Iran.

Trump has withdrawn the US from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – known commonly nuclear deal — with Iran negotiated by the Obama administration, arguing it was a terrible deal that did nothing about Tehran’s “malign activity” in the Middle East, ballistic missile development, and threats to Israel.

The US has re-imposed most of the sanctions on Iran that had been suspended under the deal, with the last batch scheduled to go into effect November 5 2018.

Pardo argues that, although the nuclear deal is not perfect, staying in it while Iran is complying is better than exiting it this early – a position similar to the IDF’s.

Citing a benefit of the accord, Pardo said that “after the nuclear deal, Iran started fighting ISIS” side by side with the West and made an important contribution in that regard.

Pardo believes that the risk of a major cyber attack is very real.

“A cyber attack could turn five nuclear power plants into a group of Chernobyls. We need an IAEA on cyber. That is the only solution if you want to fight it.”

END of UPDATE

REFERENCES

Ex Mossad chief: Israel’s biggest threat is potential civil war, not Iran — ARIEL WHITMAN, REUTERS

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One Year Ago — Former MOSSAD Chief : “Israel’s Biggest Threat Is Potential Civil War, Not Iran.”

Two Years Ago — Former MOSSAD Chief : “Israel’s Biggest Threat Is Potential Civil War, Not Iran.”

Spy Quotes — Former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo [#9]