He was literally in charge of Israel's space and satellite programs as recently as 2007 (https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL11678080). If what he says is true, this is exactly how'd you expect to hear about it: an old insider with nothing to lose who wants to tell the truth.

"gabrielblack", what national space agency did you lead to tell us so assuredly that he's lying?

All I know is that if I'm a reporter at the WSJ or NYTimes I'm not telling this story, because if it were true it would probably be your head.