pressures the Iraqi government was imposing on him and other Ma-
ronites. Some of his friends had even been imprisoned, and he was
finding it difficult to manage his business. Redfa mentioned to Yusuf
that he would like to leave the country.
After Yusuf’s first contact with the Israelis, many in Israel would
have preferred to drop the issue as unrealistic. But not Amit. Even
when Yusuf began demanding more money, Amit continued to sup-
port the plan. The Mossad contacted a top agent in Baghdad, an
American woman, and on Israeli orders or at her own initiative she
decided to draw out Redfa. The vivacious American woman, beauti-
ful as well as intelligent, could mix easily in elite social circles wher-
ever she went. She initiated the contact with Redfa at a party, where
the two immediately hit it off. He told her that he was a patriotic
Iraqi, but he added that he had found himself in violent disagreement
with the war waged by his government against the Kurdish minority
in northern Iraq. He added that after accomplishing his training as a
squadron commander, he was stationed far from his home in Bagh-
dad and was allowed to fly only with small fuel tanks because he was
a Christian. In private conversation, he even admitted to his admira-
tion for the Israelis: the few against so many Muslims.
The American woman listened and continued to meet him despite
her being married and a mother of children. As relations between
them developed she even suggested that they take a holiday together
in Europe in July 1966. After a couple of days there, she suggested to
Redfa that he fly to Israel with her; she added that she had friends in
Israel who might assist him. Redfa at once realized that this had ob-
viously been planned from the start, and her attraction to him was not
because of him personally. But he also recognized that she was mak-
ing an offer that could be of great benefit to him. He arrived in Israel
and was given VIP treatment. He was taken on tours, and he met with
Mossad officers as well as IAF officers and even the IAF commander
himself. They offered him $1 million. The challenge was as attractive
as it was dangerous. Redfa insisted that the Mossad officers arrange
for the escape of his family from Iraq as well: his wife, his children,
and his parents, as well as the rest of his extended family. He received
assurances on this, but did not tell his family plainly that they were
going to leave Iraq forever. It was decided that Redfa would be
granted Israeli citizenship, a job, and a home.STEALING THE MIG-21• 27706-102 (04) Q-Z.qxd 3/24/06 8:39 AM Page 277