DATE=2/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227322
TITLE=ISRAEL / MOSSAD (L)
BYLINE=AL PESSIN
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ISRAEL HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT IS WORKING TO GAIN THE
RELEASE OF ONE OF ITS CITIZENS WHO HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN
SWITZERLAND ON SUSPICION OF SPYING. V-O-A'S AL PESSIN IN
JERUSALEM REPORTS THE INCIDENT APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER
EMBARRASSMENT FOR ISRAEL'S ONCE-HIGHLY RESPECTED INTELLIGENCE
SERVICE, THE MOSSAD.
TEXT: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU WOULD SAY ONLY
THAT AN ISRAELI HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WILL
"DO WHAT IS NEEDED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM."
/// NETANYAHU HEBREW ACTUALITY ///
BUT AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN BERN, SWITZERLAND'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR
SAID MUCH MORE. PROSECUTOR CARLA DEL PONTE SAID THE ISRAELI IS
BEING HELD IN CONNECTION WITH WHAT SHE CALLED A "SUSPECTED SPYING
ACTION," AND FOUR OTHERS WHO FLED ARE BEING SOUGHT.
/// DEL PONTE ACTUALITY ///
WE HAVE ENOUGH ELEMENTS TO PROVE THAT MOSSAD IS
INVOLVED. BUT WE HAVE ALSO A CONFIRMATION.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
THE MEN WERE EXPOSED BY A RESIDENT IN A BUILDING IN BERN, WHERE
THEY WERE ALLEGEDLY ENGAGED IN ESPIONAGE AGAINST A FOREIGN
RESIDENT -- REPORTEDLY INVOLVING EITHER A LISTENING DEVICE OR
CLANDESTINE PHOTOGRAPHY. BUT THE PROSECUTOR AND OTHER SWISS
OFFICIALS DENY MEDIA REPORTS THAT IRANIAN DIPLOMATS WERE THE
TARGETS OF THE OPERATION.
/// OPT /// THE SWISS FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS IT SUMMONED THE
ISRAELI AMBASSADOR ON MONDAY TO LODGE AN OFFICIAL PROTEST, AND
CALLS THE INCIDENT AN "UNACCEPTABLE ATTACK ON SWISS SOVEREIGNTY"
WHICH WILL HAVE A "CHILLING EFFECT ON RELATIONS." SWITZERLAND
HAS DEMANDED AN ISRAELI APOLOGY. /// END OPT ///
THIS IS THE SECOND SERIOUS EMBARRASSMENT FOR MOSSAD IN RECENT
MONTHS. ITS DIRECTOR RESIGNED ON TUESDAY MAINLY BECAUSE OF A
BOTCHED ASSASSINATION OPERATION IN JORDAN LAST YEAR, BUT ALSO
APPARENTLY BECAUSE OF THIS LATEST INCIDENT.
THE JORDAN INCIDENT FROZE ISRAEL-JORDAN RELATIONS, FORCED ISRAEL
TO RELEASE DOZENS OF PALESTINIAN PRISONERS, AND INFURIATED KING
HUSSEIN, ISRAEL'S BEST FRIEND IN THE ARAB WORLD. BUT ISRAELI
POLITICIANS AND ANALYSTS WHO SHARPLY CRITICIZED THE JORDAN
OPERATION SAY WHAT APPARENTLY HAPPENED IN SWITZERLAND IS VERY
DIFFERENT. AMONG THEM IS FORMER MOSSAD AGENT YOSI ALPHER.
/// ALPHER ACTUALITY ///
I THINK THE TWO ISSUES, THE TWO AFFAIRS, IF YOU LIKE,
ARE RADICALLY DIFFERENT. MY GREAT CONCERN IS WHETHER IT
WAS WISE TO DO THIS IN JORDAN AT ALL, GIVEN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES OF ISRAEL'S RELATIONSHIP WITH JORDAN. AND
THAT SHOULD CONCERN US ALL, THE LACK OF STRATEGIC
JUDGEMENT THAT WAS EXERCISED IN THIS REGARD. BUT
LOOKING AT THIS AFFAIR IN SWITZERLAND, I DON'T SEE ANY
OF THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES PREVAILING.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
MR. ALPHER SAYS ISRAEL HAS SECURITY NEEDS WHICH REQUIRE IT TO
TAKE ACTION AGAINST THOSE WHO THREATEN IT, SOMETIMES THROUGH
COVERT OPERATIONS. HE AND OTHER EXPERTS SAY THE KIND OF PROBLEM
THE MOSSAD AGENTS ENCOUNTERED IN SWITZERLAND HAPPENS TO ALL
SECRET SERVICES FROM TIME TO TIME, AND THE INCIDENTS ARE USUALLY
HANDLED QUIETLY WHEN THEY INVOLVE FRIENDLY COUNTRIES.
WHAT IS OF MORE CONCERN, HE AND OTHER EXPERTS SAY, ARE THE
INFORMATION LEAKS BY MOSSAD OFFICIALS, WHO APPARENTLY WANTED TO
SPEED THEIR BOSS' RESIGNATION.
/// REST OPT ///
/// ALPHER ACTUALITY ///
THIS IS A VERY WORRISOME TREND. WE NOW TEND TO LOOK
UPON THE MOSSAD AS A VERY LEAKY PLACE. THIS IS NOT THE
WAY IT WAS IN THE PAST. IT'S A SECRET INTELLIGENCE
ORGANIZATION AND THERE SHOULDN'T BE LEAKS FROM IT. THE
LEAKS OBVIOUSLY POINT TO A CERTAIN MALAISE. IT'S NOT AN
OPERATIONAL MALAISE, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A MALAISE WITHIN
THE MOSSAD.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
FORMER ISRAELI AGENT YOSI ALPHER SAYS THE NEXT MOSSAD DIRECTOR
WILL HAVE TO NOT ONLY FIND THE LEAKERS, BUT ALSO TACKLE THE
REASONS THEY FELT COMPELLED TO BREAK THE MOST BASIC RULE OF
SPYING -- SECRECY. (SIGNED)
NEB/AWP/JWH
26-Feb-98 9:25 AM EST (1425 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.