Haim Eshed

Former Israeli space security chief, director of space programs for Israel Ministry of Defense for nearly 30 years. Haim Eshed alternatively romanized as Chaim Eshed is an Israeli visiting professor of aeronautics and astronautics at various space technology research institutions. He is a retired brigadier general in Israeli Military Intelligence.

Eshed served in a Special Operations Division of the Military Intelligence Directorate, Unit 81, which provided technological solutions to the IDF's Military Intelligence Directorate.

In 2020, Eshed became notable for promoting a UFO conspiracy theory claiming that world governments were secretly working with aliens.

In December 2020, Eshed claimed in an interview with Israeli national newspaper Yediot Aharonot that the United States government had been in contact with extraterrestrial life for years and had signed secret agreements with a "Galactic Federation" in order to perform experiments on Earth, and that there is a joint base underground on Mars where they collaborate with American astronauts. He also stated that US president Donald Trump was aware of this and was "on the verge" of informing everyone of their existence, but was stopped by the "Galactic Federation", who wished to prevent mass hysteria.

“They asked that we don’t publicize they are here because humanity isn’t ready,” he said.

The book is The Universe Beyond the Horizon: Conversations with Professor Haim Eshed written by author Hagar Yanai, published in November 2020. In the book, Eshed makes claims that include stories of how aliens prevented potential nuclear disasters, including an unspecified nuclear incident during the Bay of Pigs Invasion.

"There is an agreement between the U.S. government and the aliens. They signed a contract with us to do experiments here," he said.

There is speculation on possible motives for his claims including:

• promotion of his new book (personal profit)
• perpetuate UFO hoax stories to disguise military projects
• loss of cognitive ability or mental condition that is age related (or the result of traumatic experiences while serving the government)