B’Tselem chief ‘a true patriot,’ say sources in elite IDF unit in which he served
Hagai El-Ad was excellent soldier who contributed greatly to Israel's security, say those who served with him in intel Unit 504
B’Tselem Director Hagai El-Ad is a “true patriot” who has made invaluable contributions to Israel’s security while serving in one of the IDF’s most secretive elite units, sources in the unit said on Sunday amid a fierce media and political storm surrounding his appearance earlier this month at the United Nations Security Council in which he called for world intervention over Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
During the October 14 session, El-Ad he denounced the “invisible, bureaucratic daily violence” that dominates Palestinian life “from cradle to grave,” including Israeli control over entrance and exit from the territories, and farming rights. Hi remarks drew fierce condemnation from Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vowed he would bar national service volunteers from working with the left-wing human rights organization. Coalition chairman David Bitan (Likud) even called for stripping El-Ad of his Israeli citizenship, later proposing a bill banning Israeli citizens from calling for international action against Israel at international bodies.
According to a Channel 10 report on Sunday, El-Ad served in Unit 504, an elite unit that trains undercover agents to operate in foreign countries, primarily those that border Israel. Sources in the unit described El-Ad as an excellent soldier and one of the best Arabic speakers to have served there.
They also said that he made invaluable contributions to Israel’s security and that he was “a true patriot”, more so than most of the people who criticized him for his work as executive director of B’Tselem, according to the report.
El-Ad was in the unit from 1987-1991, and served alongside current Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Yoav Mordechai, who is in charge of implementing the Israel government’s policies in the West Bank, according to the report.
In those years, Channel 10 reported, the unit was mainly working in southern Lebanon to set up informant networks.
In his speech earlier this month, El-Ad said that Israel has used the peace process “to buy time” to establish facts on the ground for the settlements. The country could not occupy a people for 50 years and call itself a democracy, he said, adding that the rights of the Palestinians must be realized, and the occupation must end.
In a TV interview on Saturday, El-Ad rejected claims that his appearance before the Security Council was damaging to the state, saying he was motivated by his love for his homeland. El-Ad told Channel 2 TV’s “Meet the Press” program that his actions were “against the occupation, not against the state.” Furthermore, he said, “We need the world’s help to get out this situation.”