At IDF Northern War Command in Israel, Ramat David Air Force Base
General Shapiro showed no emotion as his deputy, Lieutenant General Gavi Havrel, was giving his report, but it was a tough act. A half dozen other members of the general’s staff were sitting in, so Shapiro had to keep his game face on.
“General,” Havrel continued, “the size of the invading army … the naval flotilla … all those numbers have been verified.”
“We have F-16s here in the north, ready at your command. With bombing raids, we will try to contain the front amassing at the Syrian border. All the other bases are on high alert. The southern bases are protecting the Ovda Airport at Eilat. If necessary, they will destroy the landing strips so the invaders can’t use them. The fighters at Hatzerim Air Force Base are ready to fly. Hatzor base too. And Palmachim base, same thing, and of course that air base is ready to convert to your fallback headquarters if our northern command here has to …”
The words caught in his throat. Shapiro heard the same silent word in his own head: Retreat.
Havrel finished his thought: “ — if our northern command has to evacuate.”
Shapiro turned to his diplomatic liaison. “Any word from the prime minister about his contact with President Tulrude in Washington?”
The aide shook his head. “President Tulrude has not spoken directly. She’s had her secretary of state relay the message to the prime minister that they are ‘carefully evaluating’ the situation. We’ve tried the secretary of defense — he’s been sympathetic in the past — but no luck. I think the White House is blocking our access to him.”
Shapiro asked. “The United Nations Security Council?”
“A tentative emergency meeting is scheduled for late tomorrow afternoon in New York.”
Shapiro’s face was ignited now. “That’s their idea of an emergency meeting, scheduled for the day after an invasion?”
His aide had to add, “Only a tentative meeting …”
“So much for hasbara,” Shapiro growled. His cynical comment about Israel’s efforts to build international support through public relations was met with nodding heads around the room. He had one more question — one last avenue about gathering help before Israel was swallowed up in the invading tide. “How about NATO?”
“They’ve declined. They say it’s not within the boundaries of their treaty obligations.”
Shapiro took it in. He could see the grim picture. He was a chess player, looking at a board that simply didn’t have enough pieces for him to win. He could delay the enemy on its many fronts, but probably only by hours, not days. He could dance and weave, scramble, hit and run, but what he saw was something he had hoped never to see in his lifetime. So many young men and women — and not just soldiers — were going to perish. Civilians would fight to the death for their homes, which is exactly what they would have to do. Die.
The general turned to his staff. “We still have a few minutes. Why don’t each of you call your wives, families, close friends. Report back here in fifteen. That’s all.”
Their faces showed that they understood. The realization had just sunk in, like having to be told twice that a friend had just died. Everyone knew that they were about to have what might be their last conversation with the ones they loved.