in the operation it could never have taken place without high-level ap-
proval.
On 1 March 1987, a few days before Pollard was sentenced, Sella
was assigned command of the Tel Nof base. This promotion was a
clear contradiction of Israel’s commitment to the United States that
individuals involved in the Pollard case would be dealt with accord-
ingly. The arrangement between Sella and the IAF commander was
that Sella would continue to wear the insignia of a colonel, although
the standard rank attached to his new post was brigadier general. It
cannot be known if the arrangement meant that Sella would be paid
the salary of a colonel or a brigadier general. The entry of a new air
base commander is normally a day of ceremonies in the IAF to which
foreign military attachés are usually invited. The U.S. military at-
taché did not attend. Furthermore, after learning of Sella’s promotion,
the U.S. administration canceled a joint American-Israeli air force
training course and made Tel Nof off-limits to U.S. officers and other
officials. The U.S. administration threatened to suspend its policy of
military cooperation with the IAF unless Sella’s appointment was re-
scinded.
On 3 March 1987 a U.S. federal grand jury in Washington issued
an indictment against Sella, charging him with three counts of espi-
onage. In order not to upset the United States, Sella submitted his res-
ignation from his new position to the IAF commander Major General
Amos Lapidot on 20 March.SENIOR OFFICER, THE.See BAD BUSINESS.SERENI, ADA.See SERENI, ENZO.SERENI, ENZO (1905–1944).Born in Rome to a distinguished Italian
Jewish family, in his teens Sereni became involved in Zionist activi-
ties; he immigrated to Palestine in 1927. After working there for a
short while, he returned to Europe to organize Jewish immigration to
Palestine (1931–1934). During World War II he joined the British
Army and was engaged in disseminating antifascist propaganda in
Egypt. Sereni was also sent by the British to Iraq, where he devoted
part of his efforts to clandestine Jewish immigration organizations
and succeeded in bringing a significant number of Jewish youths to252 • SENIOR OFFICER, THE06-102 (04) Q-Z.qxd 3/24/06 7:26 AM Page 252