Former senior Israeli intelligence community officials spoke out against the Newsweek article entitled “Israel Won’t Stop spying on the US”, in which Jeff Stein quotes sources in Washington accusing Israel of having gone “too far” and “crossing red lines” with its continued espionage activities against the United States.

“Israel’s espionage activities in America are unrivaled and unseemly, counterspies have told members of the House Judiciary and Foreign Affairs committees, going far beyond activities by other close allies, such as Germany, France, the U.K. and Japan. A congressional staffer familiar with a briefing last January called the testimony ‘very sobering…alarming…even terrifying.’ Another staffer called it “damaging” the report states.

Former head of the Mossad Intelligence Agency Danny Yatom told Kol Berama Radio’s Moti Lavi on Sunday, 11 Iyar, that the allegations in the report are absurd. Yatom cited that the details revealed in the article are so ridiculous that it is clear to any sane individual they are not based in truth. Yatom confirmed that he was the director of the Mossad during a part of 1998, and as such, he can state with the utmost of authority the article is not based on facts. He stated that since the apprehension of Jonathan Pollard 30 years ago, Israel halted spying activities against the United States and reports to the contrary are simply not true.

Also speaking to Kol Berama was Amos Gilad, a former IDF Chief of Intelligence. He concurred with the assessment presented earlier by Yatom as did Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin. Elkin was asked if he could give an opinion as to why such allegations would be leveled against Israel. He stated that it could have a connection with stepped up efforts to have Jonathan Pollard released. Elkin stated that polls taken over recent years attest to the fact that support for America’s special relationship with Israel is on the rise, despite allegations made in the article.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)