BICOM

Former head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency has expressed concerns over the destructive impact of divisions within Israeli society.

Tamir Pardo, whose five-year term heading Mossad came to an end last year, was speaking at a press conference yesterday to promote an event commemorating fallen Druze soldiers in the IDF. Pardo has rarely commented on public issues since retiring from one of Israel’s top security roles.

Analysing Israeli society, he said: “At the end of the day, there is more that unites us than divides us, but there are those within Israeli society who prefer to emphasise what divides rather than what unites us. I can’t put a finger on one group or leader; [this phenomenon] exists among all sectors in the country.”

He warned: “If a divided society crosses a certain line, a civil war becomes a possibility in the most extreme scenario. I’m concerned we’re heading in this direction.”

Pardo assessed that although the likes of Hezbollah can “cause us pain,” they are not an existential threat to Israel. By contrast, said Pardo “the only real existential threat is internal division”.

Asked about efforts to advance ties with Sunni Arab states such as Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, Pardo said: “In my opinion, we won’t be able to reach any agreement with any country beyond what we have now if we don’t solve the Palestinian issue.”

Noting that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has backed the establishment of a Palestinian state, Pardo said: “I think he is right and I think he needs to follow that path.”

Responding to Pardo’s comments, Zionist Union MK Nachman Shai said: “Pardo joins a long line of… senior security officials pointing to… the internal dangers lying in wait for” Israel. He urged Netanyahu to “take notice”.

A number of former Shin Bet and Mossad heads have warned of the dangers facing Israel upon their retirement from service, often placing their assessment at odds with that of the political leadership.