Fugitives by Danny Orbach

Author:Danny Orbach
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pegasus Books
Published: 2022-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

• 17 • A Willing Quarry and Nuclear Nightmares

To hunt successfully, you must know your ground, your pack and your quarry.

—K. J. PARKER, DEVICES AND DESIRES

ON OCTOBER 23, a “tall man with pig-like, protruding eyes… sporting an elegant suit which could barely hide his pot belly” knocked on the door of the Israeli Purchasing Mission (an unofficial legation) in Cologne, West Germany. Facing a startled Israeli official, the man introduced himself as “Prof. Otto Joklik, the senior adviser of the Egyptian government for nuclear affairs.” Joklik calmly explained that he was disappointed with his work for Egypt and would therefore like to contact the Israeli government. Mysteriously, he gave the official a half-torn business card, keeping the other half as an identity mark for future clandestine meetings.1

The news of Joklik’s appearance was quickly reported to Tel Aviv, giving rise to fierce debates inside the Mossad and the Israeli intelligence community. Who was this “walk-in?” A double agent? A hoax? Or the missing piece in Israel’s quest to decipher the Egyptian nuclear program? In October and November 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis was in full swing and people from all over the world were afraid of a nuclear holocaust. For Israel, any sign that Arab countries were “going nuclear” was of paramount importance, and many in Tel Aviv’s intelligence community believed ballistic missiles were of no real use without nonconventional warheads. Overcoming his doubts, Isser Harel gave his men permission to work with Joklik.2

Credible or not, Joklik made clear to his Israeli interlocutors that his decision to meet them was closely intertwined with Krug’s disappearance. Mahmoud Khalil, it seems, ordered Joklik to procure radiological warheads, namely, missiles armed with Cobalt-60 capable of spreading radiation and contaminating Israeli food and water sources. He worked closely with Krug and was appalled to see (or so he said) the indifference with which the Egyptians reacted to his fate. “I think that Krug is in your hands,” he told the Mossad operatives, “no one reached out to his wife… one cannot rely on these Egyptians.” In fact, Joklik was afraid for his own skin. Khalil suspected that he was involved in Krug’s abduction and ordered a security officer to investigate. That may have been the real reason for Joklik’s decision to switch to the Israeli side.3

Then, “like a refrigerator dealer,” Joklik opened his briefcase and presented documents testifying to his academic record and political connections. First, he offered to liaise between Israel and illicit dealers in nuclear materials. The Mossad was not interested in this dubious proposal, so he came with a second offer. He would tell the Israelis everything about the Egyptian nuclear program. An Israeli technical expert with whom he spoke was highly impressed with Joklik’s knowledge, but warned that he was also a highly dubious type:

Despite my rich experience with people, so far, I hadn’t the honor to meet such a contemptible person. Undoubtedly, the subject [Joklik] is an international arms merchant, one of the types able to convey an outwards positive impression and disguise themselves as scientists.

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