A former Israeli head of space security has said that terrestrials have been in contact with extraterrestrials from a "galactic federation".

"Identified Flying Objects have asked not to publish that they are here, humanity is not ready yet," Haim Eshed, former head of the Israeli Defense Ministry's space directorate, told the Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot.

The interview in Hebrew took place on Friday and received immediate attention, following the English translation by the Jerusalem Post, today, December 8th.

"The aliens were just as curious about humanity and were trying to understand the 'structure of the universe,'" Eshed said.

He added:

"There is an agreement between the US government and the aliens. "They signed a contract with us to experiment here."

Haim Eshed added that President Donald Trump is aware of the existence of aliens and had been "on the verge of leaking information", but was asked not to do so to prevent "mass hysteria".

"They have waited until today for humanity to evolve and reach a stage where we will understand, in general, what space is and what spaceships are."

Eshed's ideas are described in detail in "The Universe Beyond the Horizon - conversations with Professor Haim Eshed" by Hagar Yanai, published in November.

Eshed, who oversaw the launch of numerous Israeli satellites into space, said he was only speaking now because attitudes were changing and people seemed more willing to accept.

"If I had come up with what I am saying today, five years ago, I would have been hospitalized. Today, I have nothing to lose. I have received my degrees and awards. I am respected in universities abroad."

In May, Trump said, "Space will be the future, both in terms of defense and attack ... we are now a leader in space."

The news immediately brought memes and theories to the internet. Meanwhile, some have asked to "meet with the group of aliens".

Source: NBC News