I have a theory to explain what’s been going on with Mosab. It could be totally off base, but if human nature works the way I believe it does, there may very well be some truth to it. Your comments in response are welcome.
Let’s assume that Walid’s has correctly translated Mosab’s interview/s in Arabic. Can we also not assume that even if Mosab exaggerated some things in his book (which I read), the essence of it is still true ((i.e., he did in fact work with the Israelis Intelligence Agents and in so doing saved Israeli/Jewish lives)?
If Mosab’s fundamental points regarding spying for Israel are true, then his family relationships are permanently broken and he obviously would be blacklisted in Arab/Palestinian circles. Consequently, he’d have to be on guard 24/7 to protect himself from being murdered.
He’s still a relatively young man, and perhaps he misses his family/friends and has some regrets about all that’s happened–or is mad at Israel and/or the United States for not supporting him enough once he went public. In such a state of cognitive confusion, these Arabic interviews could be a desperate ploy to become accepted once again in his old circles. Unfortunately for him, once he crossed the proverbial “rubicon” to work for the Israelis, there is nothing he can “say” (short of an “action” such as blowing himself and a congregation of Jews up in a synagogue)that will change the hearts and minds of Israeli-hating Arabs–who will always view him as an infidel and even worse, as a traitor.
He seems stuck in a quagmire of own making (although he probably shirks responsibility and instead views himself as a helpless “victim”) and must be suffering a great deal. I hope that over time, he can develop some inner peace and accept what’s happened in his life.
The bottom line is that given the unforgiveable sins that he’s already committed in the eyes of Palestinians and Arabs, I have a hard time believing that he’s some sort of double agent, or just another genetically wired dishonest Arab.
The fact is that the understandable reasons why he turned on his fellow Arabs may be temporarily lost to him–or for whatever reason not seem as signficant as they once did–either of which can only add to his cognitive dissonance and internal confusion/regrets. Rather than condemning him then, perhaps we should pray for him—or at least give him the benefit of the doubt at this time.
