Putting his violent actions aside for a time, Isser Harel continued to intimidate the German scientists. He sent one of his agents to accompany the famous Yoklik to Europe, so that the latter could demonstrate what he had been doing and explain his reasons for no longer wishing to work for the Egyptians.
The two men were charged with contacting the daughter of one of the scientists now working in Egypt, an electronics expert called Professor Goerke. They made an appointment to meet her in Basel, Switzerland, but the woman, Heidi, was wary. After a serious of attacks on German scientists, she had a good reason to be cautious. Before meeting the two men, she contacted the Swiss police, who decided to observe the meeting and even installed a microphone in the room where it was to take place.
During the meeting, Yoklik and the man from Mossad warned Heidi that there would be trouble if her father continued to work for Nasser. This was still a threat, even though their words were very measured. After the meeting, the two men were tailed and eventually arrested by the Swiss police. The recording of their conversation with Heidi leaves no doubt as to the character of their mission. They were charged with working for a foreign power; a very serious accusation in Switzerland. Unfortunately, the Swiss authorities, who remained extremely discrete, were unable to prevent the story from leaking and the local press announced with great fanfare that the Israeli spy network had been dismantled.
This was very embarrassing for Mossad, especially since you could not fail to link it to the murderous actions that had already taken place against the German scientists. The German government quickly demanded the extradition of the two men, but the Swiss refused: they were to be tried where they were.
Mossad immediately organised a counteroffensive by revealing to the press the truth about the work carried out by the German scientists in Egypt, and its programme for weapons of mass destruction. Their plan was clever as they now no longer appeared to be aggressors, but were only acting in self-defence. Remember that at this point in time, the little Jewish state had a great deal of global sympathy. Another consequence of this defensive tactic was that the Swiss and Germans were particularly stigmatised and accused of complicity with the evil Egyptians.
This stigmatisation of Germany did cause some concern for Israel, who were worried that the arms deal signed between the two countries might be cancelled. A furious Ben-Gourion ordered Isser Harel to end his smear campaign against Germany immediately. No doubt encouraged by Meir Amit, the head of military intelligence, Ben-Gourion also told Harel to cease all violent action against the German scientists and to provide a detailed report on the threats that their work supposedly represented. Ben-Gourion clearly had his doubts and by questioning his long-time friend, Harel, he called into question the reliability and even the integrity of Mossad. As a result, Harel resigned and was replaced by his ‘enemy', Amit.
Goerke's daughter, Heidi, was therefore directly responsible for the resignation of the head of Mossad. However, Yoklik and the Mossad agent might still have been able to escape trial, thanks to the existence of the tape recording made during their meeting with the scientist's daughter. The press campaign orchestrated by Mossad would prove to bear fruit, as the Swiss magistrate considered the fact that the Mossad agent who had accompanied Yoklik might have been acting out of patriotism. It was also considered morally right for the Austrian scientist to denounce the Egyptian efforts to manufacture weapons of mass destruction. Both defendants were given minimal sentences and quickly released. However, the prosecutor emphasised that the Swiss authorities would not allow its territory to be used as a base for secret activities, whatever the motives behind the men who perpetrated them.
One question does remain, however: were Otto Yoklik's revelations genuine?
The fact that Isser Harel resigned so suddenly suggests that his case against Egypt was not as strong as he claimed. Mossad agents had confirmed that the cobalt purchases did take place, but that the quantities were very small, only amounting to samples, and in no way would have constituted a serious threat to Israel. However, the Mossad chief had seen an opportunity to put an end to the scientific cooperation between Germany and Egypt. He therefore probably inflated the threat in order to try and convince Ben-Gourion. He also exaggerated the skills of Dr Yoklik, who was really only a radiology specialist and not a physicist, so as to make the threat of Egyptian missiles more credible.
The trial in Switzerland and the resignation of Isser Harel did not prevent the Israelis from continuing their actions against Nasser's German scientists. But now Mossad and its new leader would pursue a different tactic. They first contacted their new friend, General Gehlen, and offered him the chance to organise the repatriation of the scientists. As the scientists had former links with the Nazi party and Gehlen himself knew some of them, Mossad suggested that if they left Egypt, they could be given good positions back in their own country. Gehlen agreed, seeing it as an honourable way for Germany to break with its old demons.
The Israelis then began a hate mail campaign and sent anonymous letters to the scientists. This was very threatening and disturbing for them, as it proved that Mossad had clearly identified them and knew that they were now earning a very good living.
Until then their presence in Egypt had been shrouded in secrecy, but it seemed that the Israelis had an agent who had managed to infiltrate these top-secret circles: Wolfgang Lotz, who will be discussed in the next chapter, and was probably one of the greatest spies of the
