Traveller Manifesto

Israel – Today.

“Have you read the report?” demanded the Minister for Defence as they walked the halls of the Knesset, Israel’s centre of power.

General Goren shrugged as he responded. Following the stresses of his interaction with the so-called Israeli Traveller Investigation Team, which some clever news anchor had dubbed as ITIT, he was happy to be done with the project. “Most of it,” he sighed. “I scanned through the most salient points. I think we have a lot more to be concerned about than Professor Cowen’s report.”

“I know. We all know!” continued the Minister angrily. “So, what are your thoughts?”

The old soldier gave a snort of derision and rolled his eyes. “What do you think? You think this can be released to the public?”

“The public?” replied the Minister as he paused in his strides and rounded on the soldier, his expression incredulous. “We’re NOW fighting a rear-guard action! The Governments of Israel and the United States have been hit harder than anyone can realise. This project risks undermining everything for which we’ve fought for generations. This can’t even be released to the rest of these fools,” he declared angrily as he gestured to other politicians who milled and chatted in the halls where they walked. Though surrounded by the security detail that rarely strayed from their side, they were temporarily isolated from the others.

General Goren gave a sharp nod. “Of course!”

The Minister shook his head and continued. “I told you this would be too dangerous. How could these bloody fools expect to prove their own bullshit? We know that archaeologists see what they want to see. Didn’t I warn the historians to let things be?”

“Yes sir,” replied the General. He knew to let the Minister have his rant. After all, the Minister had been his old commanding officer once. It was always wiser to let the old man have his way when in this kind of mood.

“If this gets out, it will mean blood on the streets. We won’t survive this unscathed, you know. It will cause an international furore that will create more problems than we need. Hamas and Islamic Jihad are already having a field day and will decide to start another intifada, no doubt,” growled the politician.

“Is that a problem?” asked the career soldier.

There was a grunt as the balding, grey head bobbed in agreement. “The international community might finally turn against us. We always make it run to our advantage, but this isn’t something we want or need. Jews, especially Jews in America and Europe, will start to question. When they question, the money stops. Also, good Jews, the smart, capable ones, the ones Israel needs, will leave. This report will more than complicate things, it will be an unmitigated disaster!” He glared at the soldier, his baggy, red-rimmed eyes watery under his thick glasses. “This isn’t about politics anymore, this is about the future of Israel, Jerusalem and any Palestinian state. We won’t have a two-state solution and can’t have Jews doubt their divine right to this land. Once they do that, we’ll be left with the idiots! Funding will be compromised and there’ll be even more sympathy for the Palestinians. Americans are already shaky. With this report? What then? Do I have to spell this out in detail?”

General Goren grunted as his boss asked the obvious. There was no need to dignify the question with a reply.

A few colleagues sauntered past and the politician gave a curt, nodded greeting. He then briskly stalked on his way to yet another committee meeting. More politicians and their aids stood and discussed the various issues that were of concern to the running of a nation. There had been some controversy due to the deaths of a few more Palestinians at the hands of their brave forces.

The Minister turned back to the soldier. “Fix it!” he growled and then returned to his duties.

“The Americans?” asked General Goren, somewhat unnecessarily.

The politician frowned and he snapped, “Liaise with them, of course. They’re already doing everything they can to duck and weave their way out of this, but it isn’t just going to go away by itself. We’ll manage the Americans!”

The soldier merely nodded. “Yes sir,” he confirmed as he turned to obey his orders.