Israel admits Binyamin Netanyahu's secret trip to Moscow

[jakeXT]

Evidence of a secret dash to Russia by Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, intensified speculation yesterday that a hijacked cargo ship was smuggling arms to Iran.

The Kremlin defended its right to sell S300 air-defence missiles to Iran as Mr Netanyahu was forced on to the defensive over his movements.

Officials refused to say where he was after admitting that an announcement of a visit on Monday to a security facility run by Israel’s Mossad security service was untrue.

Mr Netanyahu’s office said only that he was “busy with a classified activity”. It did not deny an Israeli newspaper report that he had travelled to Moscow to urge the Kremlin not to sell weapons to Israel’s Middle Eastern enemies amid claims that the Arctic Sea cargo vessel was carrying S300s destined for Iran when it was intercepted by the Russian Navy.

Mr Netanyahu apparently went to great lengths to cover up his visit, which was kept secret even from members of his staff. Senior officials confirmed to The Times that he flew to Moscow on a private jet hired for $20,000 from a company owned by the Israeli mogul Yossi Maiman.

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6829278.ece

[grassfed]

1. 'Israel link' in Arctic Sea case

'Israel link' in Arctic Sea case
Israel was linked to the interception of the missing cargo ship Arctic Sea last month, a senior figure close to Israeli intelligence has told the BBC.

The source said Israel had told Moscow it knew the ship was secretly carrying a Russian air defence system for Iran.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has dismissed speculation that S-300 missiles were on board the ship.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, has denied making a secret visit to Moscow on Monday.

Mr Netanyahu's office says he was visiting an Israeli security installation when he vanished from public view for much of the day.

A BBC correspondent points out that the claim of a secret arms shipment come as Israel seeks to highlight the threat posed by Iran.

Tehran faces a deadline to open talks on its nuclear programme or face possible sanctions from the UN.

'Groundless'

The Maltese-flagged Arctic Sea and its 15 Russian crew vanished in July days after leaving Finland with an apparent cargo of timber destined for Algeria.

It was found on 16 August off West Africa. Moscow announced that the Russian navy had captured the hijackers and rescued the crew.

Eight men were later charged with hijacking and piracy.

However, the Israeli source told the BBC that the piracy story was a cover and that Israel told Moscow it was giving officials time to stop the shipment before making the matter public.

On Tuesday, Mr Lavrov called media speculation that S-300 missiles were on board the Arctic Sea "groundless".

He also promised a "transparent" investigation into the disappearance of the ship.

Israeli media are linking the Arctic Sea incident to reports in the Hebrew language daily Yediot Aharonot of a clandestine visit by Mr Netanyahu to Moscow on Monday.

The prime minister's office insisted that he had been visiting a "security installation inside Israel".

The Kremlin press service said "nothing is known" about the reports, AP news agency reported.

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, added that he had no information about any visit by Mr Netanyahu, Russia's Interfax news agency said.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/8247273.stm