US Should/Must Follow NZ Lead on Treatment of Israeli Spies

Let's adopt New Zealand's standards


http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2973027a6160,00.html

Israel breached NZ's sovereignty and international law - Clark
15 July 2004

UPDATED REPORT
Israel breached New Zealand's sovereignty and international law when two
of
its agents attempted to fraudulently obtain a passport, Prime Minister
Helen
Clark said tonight.

Miss Clark announced a virtual suspension of diplomatic relations with
Israel after Uriel Zoshe Kelman and Eli Cara were each sentenced to six
months jail in the High Court at Auckland.

They had pleaded guilty to charges, including fraudulently attempting to
obtain a New Zealand passport and participating in an organised crime
group
to obtain a false passport.

Miss Clark said in a statement there were "very strong reasons" to
believe
the two men were acting on behalf of Israel's intelligence services.

"The New Zealand Government views the act carried out by the Israeli
intelligence agents as not only utterly unacceptable but also a breach of
New Zealand sovereignty and international law," she said.

Miss Clark said the case involved far more than simply criminal
behaviour by
two individuals.

"The Israeli agents attempted to demean the integrity of the New Zealand
passport system and could have created considerable difficulties for New
Zealanders presenting their passports overseas in future," she said.

"New Zealand condemns without reservation these actions by agencies of
the
Israeli Government.

"The Israeli Government was asked for an explanation and an apology three
months ago. Neither has been received."

Miss Clark said that as a result, the following measures had been
implemented:

New Zealand was suspending high-level visits from and to Israel;
Approval for appointment of the new Israeli ambassador would be delayed
and
accreditation visits to Israel suspended in the meantime;
Any approach by Israel for its head of state, President Katsov, to visit
New
Zealand in August, in association with a proposed visit to Australia,
would
be declined;
Israelis visiting New Zealand in any official government capacity would
be
required to apply for visas;
Foreign Ministry consultations with Israel, due later this year, would be
suspended.

Miss Clark said no approach by Israel to intervene in the sentences
imposed
on the two men would be entertained.

"At the end of their sentences the normal process regarding deportation
will
apply," she said.

"This type of behaviour is unacceptable internationally by any country.
It
is a sorry indictment of Israel that it has again taken such actions
against
a country with which it has friendly relations."

Miss Clark said it was not the first time Israel had sought fraudulently
to
obtain passports from another country.

"Israeli agents caught in an unsuccessful assassination attempt in
Jordan in
1997 were found to be carrying fraudulent Canadian passports," she said.

"While we regret the need for it, New Zealand has no option but to take
the
actions that it has in response to a deliberate breach of its
sovereignty."

Miss Clark said later the Government had "no doubt whatsoever" that the
men
were acting on behalf of Israeli intelligence services.

"We have every reason to believe they were acting on behalf of those
agencies," she said on TV One's Holmes Show.

Miss Clark was asked whether the intelligence services she had referred
to
included Mossad, the Israeli secret service.

"There are a range of such agencies in Israel," she replied.

"Suffice it to say we believe we are on very solid ground in saying that
they were working on behalf of those agencies."

Asked whether there had been any response to the Government's request
three
months ago for an explanation and an apology, Miss Clark said:
"Absolutely
zilch. No apology, no explanation."

Miss Clark said there had been contact over the last 48 hours to find out
whether, in view of the imminent sentencing, the Israeli Government
might be
prepared to say something when it had been handed down.

"It was clear that wasn't the intention," she said.

"Therefore we have examined the range of diplomatic measures we could
take
and we are taking them."

She said the measures she had announced did not amount to breaking or
suspending diplomatic relations.

"But this incident has put a very serious strain on relations," she said.

"We have long had a friendly relationship with Israel and we don't think
this is the way friends should behave towards each other."

Israel's acting ambassador in Australia, Orna Sagiv, said today she hoped
Israel's strong relationship with New Zealand would not be damaged
long-term
by the imprisonment of two Israelis on passport charges.

Uriel Zoshe Kelman and Eli Cara were sentenced to six months'
imprisonment
in the High Court at Auckland today. They last month pleaded guilty to
charges including fraudulently attempting to obtain a New Zealand
passport
and participating in an organised crime group to obtain a false passport.

"I hope it will keep going on a strong track," Mrs Sagiv said from
Canberra
in reference to Israel's relationship with New Zealand. "We really
respect
the Prime Minister of New Zealand and out of respect for her we need to
review the situation."

She said she needed time to examine Prime Minister Helen Clark's
statement
condemning the actions of the alleged secret agents, who will also pay
$50,000 each to the Cerebral Palsy Society.

She read the statement at 4.45pm (AEST) and said shortly afterwards it
was
too early to make a comment on Miss Clark's announcement of diplomatic
sanctions against Israel, which include delaying the appointment of a new
Israeli ambassador to New Zealand and suspension of high-level visits to
and
from Israel.

"It's too soon for us to comment on such matters as diplomatic sanctions,
but we hope there will be no long-term damage to our strong
relationship,"
Mrs Sagiv said.

"We were aware of the case of two Israeli citizens facing criminal
charges
and we see it as another consular case. We need time to review the matter
and prepare a response."

=========

At 3:35 AM -1000 7/16/04, viviane wrote:

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/451823.html
16/07/2004 04:29

FM: We will do 'everything' to restore ties with New Zealand
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark imposed diplomatic sanctions on
Israel on Thursday, a short time after a New Zealand court sentenced two
Israelis for attempting to unlawfully obtain a passport from that
country.

Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said in response that Israel would work to
restore diplomatic relations with New Zealand.

Clark said Thursday "there were very strong reasons to believe" the two
Israelis - Uriel Zosha Kelman, 31, and Elisha Cara, 50 - "were acting on
behalf of Israel's intelligence services." The defendants had previously
denied media reports that they were members of the Mossad.