Why Israel’s top gun has India on his mind

So, how concerned should India be about its security? ‘‘By becoming the leading locomotive of the world economy, India, ironically is also becoming vulnerable to attacks,’’ says Einav. After the brazen attack on Bangalore’s premier science institute, ‘‘it’s clear we will see a change in the way attacks happen. I am talking about defence, military, tourist targets. Remember Egypt and Bali? One terrorist strike and the tourism industry has gone into a tailspin.’’

And though Einav doesn’t want to be drawn into stormy Israeli, Palestinian relations, he says countries around the world must learn lessons from troubled zones and incidents like 9/11. ‘‘We must find the right combination between technology and manpower and set up effective procedures with one clear objective — how to deny future attacks.’’ Second, he says if we fail to stop an attack, we must have a crisis management system which ‘‘will bring us back to the production line as fast as possible… we must find a way to minimise losses.’’ He says the worst message anyone can send terrorists is a shutdown.

‘‘I am used to lecturing the world on security, especially after September 11 when everything changed.’’ When the world changed for Einav too. He had quit EL AL in June of that year, hoping to go home to his farm in Tel Aviv and manage a soccer team. Instead of a soccer career, Einav ended up forming a security consulting company, GS-3, with Brigadier General Yoel Feldschuh, EL AL’s former chief executive officer and once the head of Israeli Air Force intelligence.

And though GS-3 and other security firms, many based in Israel, are cashing in because the world is on high alert, Einav, who is a jetsetter, says he yearns to spend more time on his farm where he now lives.

‘‘I love jazz, football and the good life.’’ And what does this former camp member of the exclusive Israeli secret service Shin Bet where he spent 12 years listen to? ‘‘Oh, I love Spyro Gyra and Pat Metheney,’’ he smiles.