the Egyptian consulate in Genoa. He told the Egyptians everything
about his past as a SS soldier and an IDF officer hoping that the infor-
mation on Israel would be considered an asset. He handed the Egyptians
his Israeli passport and received an Egyptian passport in the name of
Robert Hayat. He traveled to Egypt, where he was interrogated and sus-
pected of being an Israeli mole. He was advised to return to Israel to try
to enlist in the IDF again and become a “sleeper”—a proposal he de-
clined. He was uninterested in returning to Israel but wanted a once-
only deal: information in return for money and help returning to Ger-
many. Eventually the Egyptians agreed to assist him, hoping that he
would at some time spy on Israel. He was given some money and an
Egyptian laissez-passerallowing him a single entry into Germany.
In August 1955, after Schnaft had lived six months in Germany,
the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) became aware of his earlier activ-
ities. Though it was realized that he had not caused substantial secu-
rity damage, it was decided to bring him to trial in Israel. An ISA case
officer, Iraqi-born Jew Shmuel Moria, with the assistance of the ISA
documentation department, obtained an Iraqi officer’s identity card
prepared by means of photo-montage; it was in the name of a “Cap-
tain Adnan.” He arrived in Germany and contrived to encounter
Schnaft. One day the disguised Israeli agent invited his quarry to
lunch at a Berlin restaurant. After the meal “Captain Adnan” took out
his wallet to pay for the meal. Suddenly, as if by accident, his Iraqi
officer’s identity card fell to the floor. Schanft, in an automatic ges-
ture, picked it up and discerned that his host was an Iraqi officer.
“Captain Adnan” admitted that it was true, which seemed to make his
disguise more authentic. He then suggested that Schnaft work for the
Iraqis as a spy in Israel. Schnaft, at ease now in the company of this
“Iraqi officer,” thereupon cursed the Jews and Israel. He even told the
truth about his past in Nazi Germany and Israel, but he added that he
was afraid to return to Israel as a spy. He told “Adnan” that Israel had
an excellent intelligence network and that he would soon be detected.
Moria succeeded in convincing Schnaft that Iraqi intelligence is even
better and that Iraqi intelligence just needs some information on the
economic situation in Israel, so Schanft would not be placed in dan-
ger. In the end Schnaft agreed. His flight to Israel was paid for. On
arrival he was arrested. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to
seven years in prison. He was released in 1961 after serving five
years of his sentence.SCHNAFT, ULRICH• 24706-102 (04) Q-Z.qxd 3/24/06 7:25 AM Page 247