While America continues to release details of Israel’s bombing mission that destroyed Syria’s nuclear facility in Sept. 2007, among the many growing fears in Yerushalayim is the fact that America may release the identity of the agent who successfully gathered the intelligence information which led to the successful mission.

Some feel that while Jerusalem has permitted America to violate a long-standing code-of-ethics that exists between friendly nations, a move that may have long-term negative ramifications on Israel’s intelligence abilities, the decision is an intentional one since it bolsters Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s popularity.

While Congress is treating the information in a classified fashion, many members and former members of Israel’s intelligence community are signaling growing anxiety as more details of the mission are making their way to newspapers around the world.

Meanwhile, MK (Likud) Dr. Yuval Shteinitz expressed his concerns regarding the release of information surrounding the destruction of the Syrian nuclear facility.

Shteinitz, a former chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee on Friday morning told Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) that it appears there has been some kind of agreement reached between Washington and Jerusalem permitting the release of information, information that has the potential to seriously harm Israel’s intelligence abilities. He stressed this is a grave error on Israel’s part.

Shteinitz explained there is an “unwritten code” by which friendly nations address such sensitive issues, to the extent there is no publicity surrounding sensitive matters. He explained there should not even be verification of the fact that the Syrian nuclear facility existed.

Shteinitz stated the continued American release of information has serious potential to harm Israel, as well as future intelligence capabilities. Other public officials add that if enough information is released, pointing to Israel, it may compel Damascus to order a military response to the September 2007 aerial attack at the Syrian reactor. Officials report the Syrian facility was weeks, or at the very most months away from reaching operational stage.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)