NZ: 2 more passport suspects may have fled to Israel

[bemildred]

New Zealand police and security
officials suspect that two other suspects
in the Mossad passport affair have fled
to Israel. The first is Ze'ev Barkan, who
is thought to have masterminded the
botched Mossad operation to acquire
New Zealand passports. It was disclosed
last week that Barkan had served in
diplomatic posts at Israeli embassies in
Austria and Belgium.

The second figure whose name was
disclosed this weekend was Anthony
David Reznick. New Zealand television
on Friday said Reznick is a 36 year old
religious Jew who worked as a
paramedic for an ambulance company
that provided services to handicapped
youth.

---

If it is established that Reznick
facilitated a Mossad operation, his
engagement for such work would be in
line with Mossad methods of operation.
Many reports suggest the Mossad often
relies on helpers around the world as it
carries out its missions - many of these
are Jewish. Among other things, helpers
would provide help with accommodation
for those on operations, as well as
relaying information.

However, since the arrest of Jonathan
Pollard in the United States in the mid
1980s, the Mossad had reportedly
minimized its use of foreign Jewish
helpers. The concern was that the
unmasking of helpers in botched
intelligence operations could generate
accusations of divided loyalty against
Jews in their home countries.

Haaretz

[Scurrilous]

1. Kiwi caper is worst of many blunders

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/455472.html

<snip>

"The Mossad has been entangled overseas in messy affairs over the years involving the use of foreign passports, but the current New Zealand debacle has taken on unusual proportions because the New Zealand police claim that local Jews are involved. This being so, it's impossible not to regard this as a clumsy blunder that has caused needless damage, both to Israel and to the local Jewish community.

It will take time and serious damage control to eradicate the legacy of this latest bungled Mossad caper. Of all countries in the world that Israel could become locked in a diplomatic mess, New Zealand should have been one of the last. It has always been considered a friendly country - but such a consideration means nothing to intelligence officers who have no diplomatic instincts and who operate without adequate supervision."


<snip>

"Israel has also had passport affairs in Britain and Canada. In Britain, due to a technical foulup, blank passports were lost. The British responded assertively, but also stifled unhelpful media publicity. The affair hobbled Mossad work in Britain for many years and Israelis were declared personae non grata and expelled from Britain.

In Canada, it was a case of forged passports. The incident was connected to the ill-fated and botched attempt to assassinate Hamas leader Khaled Meshal in Jordan, when Benjamin Netanyahu was prime minister. Relations with Canada were damaged and Israel had to apologize."

[bemildred]

2. Signs of stress.

When too much is demanded, you get breakdowns now and then.
It's hard enough to be perfect under good circumstances. In
bad circumstances, when the limits are pushed, you get big
messes. The standard Israeli foreign policy of attacking verbally
anyone who disagrees with you is another part of it, there is
no slack, no tolerance, no good will to help you patch over these
little fuckups. That which will not bend may be expected to
break sooner or later.

[number6]

3. kick

:kick:

[number6]

4. very interesting

no doubt there's more to the story ......

[Scurrilous]

5. More:

Report: Israel tried to bury New Zealand Mossad affair

http://www.maarivenglish.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=10325

"Israel tried to make a secret deal with the Government to stop the passports fraud affair becoming public, the New Zealand Herald reported on Thursday.

But intense behind-the-scenes negotiations stopped once the two alleged Mossad agents were charged with criminal actions and the scandal was exposed by the Herald.

Israel Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom said approaches were made after the Government told Israel in April that Eli Cara and Uriel Kelman had been caught trying to obtain a passport in the name of a disabled New Zealander."

<snip>

"Many top-level Israelis say they are surprised that the New Zealand Government did not make a secret deal with Israel. Some believed the Government was using the affair to deflect political opposition within New Zealand, but all felt that now the affair was in the open, it should be resolved as soon as possible."