the post of Head of Military Intelligence. He knew the importance of

the post of Head of Military Intelligence. He knew the importance of intelligence, and the potential cost of Israel being taken by surprise in a future war, having been part of the top military leadership during Rotem. He was energetic, bright, and exuded an infectious sense of self-confidence and authority. He also had clout at headquarters. If he decided the time had come to revive cross-border intelligence operations, there was every chance it would happen. Still, it was an agonizingly slow process. By the time my period of military service was drawing to an end, it hadn’t happened. I did not seriously think of leaving. Though my two years in Sayeret Matkal had been the most physically demanding of my life, they were also the most fulfilling. I did not want to forfeit the chance of being part of its finally becoming an operational unit. So I committed to at least a few more years in the military. I joined my closest friend among the recruits, Uri Zakay, for six months in officers’ school as we waited, or hoped, for approval to actually use the skills and qualities we had acquired in the sayeret. And in the summer of 1962, shortly after I returned to the unit from officers’ school as a second-lieutenant, the green light finally came. 63 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_027911