Aviem Sella
Encyclopedia
Aviem Sella is a former colonel in the Israeli Air Force
. He is a combat veteran of the Six-Day War
, commanded Operation Opera
, the air strike against the Iraqi Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981, and was a commanding officer in Operation Mole Cricket 19
during the 1982 Lebanon War
.
While a graduate student in New York
, Sella recruited Jonathan Pollard
to spy for Israel. Pollard was indicted on espionage charges in 1987. Pollard's Israeli handlers were granted immunity from prosecution in the United States
in exchange for cooperation after Pollard's arrest. Sella's role, however, was unknown at the time and the Israelis were not forthcoming about his involvement. For this reason, Sella was not given immunity by the US when his role was uncovered.
Following the US refusal to grant Sella immunity, Sella was not extradited for questioning. He was not extradited given command of Tel Nof Airbase
. The U.S. Congress
threatened to cut aid to Israel, at which point Sella stepped down.
Sella later finished his doctorate at Tel Aviv University
's Business School and started an IT company that was purchased by Matrix IT Ltd.
Anne Pollard made it possible for Sella to escape the US and prison by informing him of her husband's arrest. Anne had lost an agent following her and met Sella at a restaurant. Irit Erb and Yossi Yagur also escaped thanks to Anne. Sella later denounced Anne, blaming her instead of thanking her.
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...
. He is a combat veteran of the Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
, commanded Operation Opera
Operation Opera
Operation Babylon was a surprise Israeli air strike carried out on June 7, 1981, that destroyed a nuclear reactor under construction 17 kilometers southeast of Baghdad, Iraq....
, the air strike against the Iraqi Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981, and was a commanding officer in Operation Mole Cricket 19
Operation Mole Cricket 19
Operation Mole Cricket 19 was a suppression of enemy air defenses campaign launched by the Israeli Air Force against Syrian targets on June 9, 1982, at the outset of the 1982 Lebanon War. The operation was the first time in history that a Western air force successfully destroyed a Soviet-built...
during the 1982 Lebanon War
1982 Lebanon War
The 1982 Lebanon War , , called Operation Peace for Galilee by Israel, and later known in Israel as the Lebanon War and First Lebanon War, began on 6 June 1982, when the Israel Defense Forces invaded southern Lebanon...
.
While a graduate student in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Sella recruited Jonathan Pollard
Jonathan Pollard
Jonathan Jay Pollard worked as a civilian intelligence analyst before being convicted of spying for Israel. He received a life sentence in 1987....
to spy for Israel. Pollard was indicted on espionage charges in 1987. Pollard's Israeli handlers were granted immunity from prosecution in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in exchange for cooperation after Pollard's arrest. Sella's role, however, was unknown at the time and the Israelis were not forthcoming about his involvement. For this reason, Sella was not given immunity by the US when his role was uncovered.
Following the US refusal to grant Sella immunity, Sella was not extradited for questioning. He was not extradited given command of Tel Nof Airbase
Tel Nof Airbase
Tel Nof Israeli Air Force , also known as Air Force Base 8, is one of three principal airbases of the Israeli Air Force. Tel Nof is located near Rehovot, Israel.-History:...
. The U.S. Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
threatened to cut aid to Israel, at which point Sella stepped down.
Sella later finished his doctorate at Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
's Business School and started an IT company that was purchased by Matrix IT Ltd.
Anne Pollard made it possible for Sella to escape the US and prison by informing him of her husband's arrest. Anne had lost an agent following her and met Sella at a restaurant. Irit Erb and Yossi Yagur also escaped thanks to Anne. Sella later denounced Anne, blaming her instead of thanking her.