The developments in the Qatargate affair could cause serious danger for Israel, Ilan Lotan, a former senior official in the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), said in an interview with Radio 103FM on Wednesday.
"The developments... are the dream of every intelligence officer – to recruit people who are in the closest proximity to the head of an organization or a head of state," he claimed.
Lotan added that there were reports that Egypt was preparing for war during the affair. "We need to understand the strategic damage that would have been caused to Israel," he emphasized.
Lotan said that in his opinion, no damage control was done during the investigation. Though he is not familiar with the details of the current investigation, he said, he was adamant about the need for a thorough probe into the affair to prevent similar incidents in the future.
"This is the role of the Shin Bet and the Israel Police," Lotan argued.
Lotan was also asked if David Zini's appointment as head of the Shin Bet could harm the organization’s functioning. "I estimate, and with high probability, that it will not," he replied. The organization, according to him, is stronger than the single person who leads it.
Disagreements are healthy
Regarding the report on the resignation of the deputy head of the service due to "disagreements," Lotan said he believed disagreements are a healthy aspect of any organization. "It is good that they do not speak in one voice," he stated, "How deep are the disagreements? We will leave that to gossip."
Lotan said that he hoped the next head of the Shin Bet would come from within the organization, claiming that an outsider would have a lengthy learning period.
"The question is who will be appointed as the deputy," he added. "I really hope that someone from outside won't be parachuted in, because that would be a very unwise decision."