Spy scandal haunts Israel

Press, 5 March 1987, Page 10

Spy scandal haunts Israel

NZPA-Reuter Tel Aviv

Israel faces deepening embarrassment over a United States spy scandal after the indictment in Washington of an Israeli Air Force colonel. Colonel Aviem Sella was charged yesterday with recruiting Jonathan Pollard, a United States Navy intelligence analyst, into a spy ring that collected top-secret American documents. Israeli officials had hoped that the damaging affair that began with Pollard’s arrest 15 months ago would fade with his sentencing today at a court in Washington.

“This affair is without a doubt one of the most difficult things to happen to the State of Israel in the United States and its relations with the American public,” a former Israeli ambassador to

Washington, Ephraim Evron, said yesterday. Spokesmsen for the Israeli Foreign and Defence Ministries have declined comment on Colonel Sella's indictment. Israel — embarrassed at having been caught spying on its best friend — has for months tried to ease the strain in relations. The Government is heavily dependent on United States arms and aid, and is concerned by the slightest change in the American mood. After Pollard’s arrest last year, Israeli leaders apologised and promised to co-operate with United States investigators. They called the spy ring a rogue operation and dissolved it.

Then last week, Colonel Sella’s promotion to commander of Israel’s second

largest air base prompted the United States Government to call him a serious problem in the two countries’ relations. Israeli sources said that as a result of United States pressure, Colonel Sella was not given the new rank of brigadiergeneral.

"We believe we have carried out our commitments in this case and it is painful to us that the issue has continued to drag,” said the Defence Minister, Yitzhak Rabin, yesterday.

Pollard, an American Jew, has admitted passing secrets that helped Israel ’ bomb the Palestine Liberation Organisation headquarters in Tunis in October, 1985, and included information on Soviet and Arab military strength. He has alleged that

Israeli- leaders knew of his activities, an accusation denied by the Prime Minister, Yitzhak Shamir. Colonel Sella, aged 41, appears unlikely to face trial in the United States because United StatesIsraeli extradition treaties, do not cover espionage. But Justice Department officials said the indictment was itself a form of punishment as it would effectively bar his entry into the United States and would hurt his chances of becoming a future Israeli leader.

The officials said the leader of the spy ring, Rafi Eitan could also be indicted along with two former Israeli diplomats.

Mr Eitan is now chairman of Israel Chemicals Company, a plum appointment in a State-owned firm.