18 feb 2013
Israeli parliament to probe Prisoner X death
The Australian-Israeli ‘Mossad agent’ who became known as ‘Prisoner X’
An Israeli parliamentarian committee has launched an investigation into the death and detention of the Australian-Israeli Mossad agent called Prisoner X.
"The intelligence subcommittee of the [Knesset] foreign affairs and defense committee decided to hold an intensive inquiry into all aspects of the affair of the prisoner found dead in his cell," spokesman of the Knesset's intelligence subcommittee Asaf Doron said in a statement.
On February 12, Australian reporter Trevor Bormann revealed on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that Ben Zygier was “found hanged in a cell with state-of-the-art surveillance systems” near Tel Aviv in late 2010.
For two years, a gag order prevented journalists in Israel from telling the story of Prisoner X. The order was partially lifted by an Israeli court two days after the ABC report. Gag orders and military censorship are common in Israel.
Originally born in Melbourne, the 34-year-old Zygier had worked for the Israeli spy agency, Mossad, the ABC report said.
Following the revelation, the Tel Aviv regime was forced to admit that Zygier had been jailed under a false identity “for security reasons.”
The Australian reporter added that he had been informed that the editors-in-chief and owners of the Israeli regime’s main media outlets were summoned upon an order by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu an hour after the ABC report was aired, and were asked by the head of Mossad, Tamir Pardo, not to report the ABC program.
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr has said that Australia has called on the Israeli government to provide them with an “explanation of how this tragic death came about."
Netanyahu, however, has urged discretion with regards to the case as "overexposure of security and intelligence activities can damage, and damage badly” the Israeli security.
An Israeli parliamentarian committee has launched an investigation into the death and detention of the Australian-Israeli Mossad agent called Prisoner X.
"The intelligence subcommittee of the [Knesset] foreign affairs and defense committee decided to hold an intensive inquiry into all aspects of the affair of the prisoner found dead in his cell," spokesman of the Knesset's intelligence subcommittee Asaf Doron said in a statement.
On February 12, Australian reporter Trevor Bormann revealed on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that Ben Zygier was “found hanged in a cell with state-of-the-art surveillance systems” near Tel Aviv in late 2010.
For two years, a gag order prevented journalists in Israel from telling the story of Prisoner X. The order was partially lifted by an Israeli court two days after the ABC report. Gag orders and military censorship are common in Israel.
Originally born in Melbourne, the 34-year-old Zygier had worked for the Israeli spy agency, Mossad, the ABC report said.
Following the revelation, the Tel Aviv regime was forced to admit that Zygier had been jailed under a false identity “for security reasons.”
The Australian reporter added that he had been informed that the editors-in-chief and owners of the Israeli regime’s main media outlets were summoned upon an order by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu an hour after the ABC report was aired, and were asked by the head of Mossad, Tamir Pardo, not to report the ABC program.
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr has said that Australia has called on the Israeli government to provide them with an “explanation of how this tragic death came about."
Netanyahu, however, has urged discretion with regards to the case as "overexposure of security and intelligence activities can damage, and damage badly” the Israeli security.
16 feb 2013
More Prisoner Xs held in Israeli jails: Report
The headstone of Ben Zygier is photographed in the Chevra Kadisha Jewish Cemetery in Melbourne on February 14, 2013
A report says the Australian-Israeli ‘Mossad agent’ who allegedly committed suicide in an Israeli prison in 2010 was not the only one to be held under a false name.
Citing sources familiar with the affair of Ben Zygier, known as Prisoner X to conceal his identity, Israeli website Ynetnew reported that “in many cases, the Israeli detainees are in greater danger of being locked up under an assumed name and ‘disappearing’.”
“Detainees vanish into interrogation rooms; no one knows where they are,” one of the sources said.
"When an Israeli is detained for security offenses, a process begins, but no one knows how it will end," another source said.
On February 12, reporter Trevor Bormann revealed on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that the 34-year-old who had worked for Mossad for ten years was “found hanged in a cell with state-of-the-art surveillance systems” near Tel Aviv in December 2010.
"He disappears into interrogation rooms, and no one knows where he is. They do it using two tools: A gag order and an injunction that prevents the detainee from meeting with an attorney,” the source added.
"In this manner, the detainee is interrogated without being aware of his rights and without meeting anyone. The entire system is recruited to make him disappear.”
"For instance, Izzat Nafso, the IDF intelligence officer who served in the Lebanese Liaison Unit and was suspected of espionage and aiding the enemy, was detained without the knowledge of his family. He was interrogated for 14 days, and was tortured during the questioning," the source added.
Following the revelation, the Tel Aviv regime was forced to admit that Zygier had been jailed under a false identity “for security reasons” despite nearly two years of great efforts to cover up the secret.
A report by the New York Times quoting the Kuwaiti daily Al Jarida on Thursday, said Zygier was among the 26 suspects in a murder plot in which Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a Hamas official, was tracked and killed in his hotel room hours after his arrival in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, in January 2010.
The assassins had reportedly used fake passports from Australia, Britain, Ireland, Germany and France, among other countries.
The report added that Prisoner X had provided the officials in Dubai with “names and pictures and accurate details” in exchange for protection.
However, the Israeli regime kidnapped him from his hideout and jailed him over treason nearly a month after the operation over the speculation that he had been on the verge of exposing Tel Aviv’s secrets about the passports.
A report says the Australian-Israeli ‘Mossad agent’ who allegedly committed suicide in an Israeli prison in 2010 was not the only one to be held under a false name.
Citing sources familiar with the affair of Ben Zygier, known as Prisoner X to conceal his identity, Israeli website Ynetnew reported that “in many cases, the Israeli detainees are in greater danger of being locked up under an assumed name and ‘disappearing’.”
“Detainees vanish into interrogation rooms; no one knows where they are,” one of the sources said.
"When an Israeli is detained for security offenses, a process begins, but no one knows how it will end," another source said.
On February 12, reporter Trevor Bormann revealed on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that the 34-year-old who had worked for Mossad for ten years was “found hanged in a cell with state-of-the-art surveillance systems” near Tel Aviv in December 2010.
"He disappears into interrogation rooms, and no one knows where he is. They do it using two tools: A gag order and an injunction that prevents the detainee from meeting with an attorney,” the source added.
"In this manner, the detainee is interrogated without being aware of his rights and without meeting anyone. The entire system is recruited to make him disappear.”
"For instance, Izzat Nafso, the IDF intelligence officer who served in the Lebanese Liaison Unit and was suspected of espionage and aiding the enemy, was detained without the knowledge of his family. He was interrogated for 14 days, and was tortured during the questioning," the source added.
Following the revelation, the Tel Aviv regime was forced to admit that Zygier had been jailed under a false identity “for security reasons” despite nearly two years of great efforts to cover up the secret.
A report by the New York Times quoting the Kuwaiti daily Al Jarida on Thursday, said Zygier was among the 26 suspects in a murder plot in which Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a Hamas official, was tracked and killed in his hotel room hours after his arrival in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, in January 2010.
The assassins had reportedly used fake passports from Australia, Britain, Ireland, Germany and France, among other countries.
The report added that Prisoner X had provided the officials in Dubai with “names and pictures and accurate details” in exchange for protection.
However, the Israeli regime kidnapped him from his hideout and jailed him over treason nearly a month after the operation over the speculation that he had been on the verge of exposing Tel Aviv’s secrets about the passports.
15 feb 2013
Prisoner X case casts light on Israel media gagging: Whistleblower
The Australian-Israeli ‘Mossad agent’ who became known as ‘Prisoner X’
The Australian reporter who blew the lid off the secret detention and death of an Australian-Israeli Mossad agent called Prisoner X in an Israeli jail says the spy case has led to flaring resentment at how the Tel Aviv regime stifles information.
Trevor Bormann said on Friday that he has spoken to about 30 Israeli journalists since his story went global and they felt it had “brought to a head years of resentment at the way Israel's security services suppress sensitive information.”
On February 12, Bormann revealed on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that Ben Zygier was “found hanged in a cell with state-of-the-art surveillance systems” near Tel Aviv in late 2010.
Originally born in Melbourne, the 34-year-old Zygier had worked for the Israeli spy agency, Mossad, the ABC report said.
Following the revelation, the Tel Aviv regime was forced to admit that Zygier had been jailed under a false identity “for security reasons” despite nearly two years of great efforts to cover up the secret.
The Australian reporter added that he was informed that the editors-in-chief and owners of the Israeli regime’s main media outlets were summoned upon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s order an hour after the ABC report was aired.
“The meeting was addressed by the head of Mossad, Tamir Pardo. Israel's chief censor was also present,” Bormann said.
Bormann went on to say, “The Mossad chief passionately urged media outlets not to report details of the (ABC) 'Foreign Correspondent' program, saying it would deeply embarrass the security services.”
However, an editor present at the meeting told Bormann that “media representatives turned on the Mossad chief,” accusing him of “treating Israeli public like fools.”
Shimon Shiffer also wrote in the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronot that the Tel Aviv regime’s attempts to hush up the story “portrays our decision-makers as an illiterate band of mafiosos protecting narrow interests and looking to whitewash” rather than taking care of Israel’s security.
The Australian reporter who blew the lid off the secret detention and death of an Australian-Israeli Mossad agent called Prisoner X in an Israeli jail says the spy case has led to flaring resentment at how the Tel Aviv regime stifles information.
Trevor Bormann said on Friday that he has spoken to about 30 Israeli journalists since his story went global and they felt it had “brought to a head years of resentment at the way Israel's security services suppress sensitive information.”
On February 12, Bormann revealed on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that Ben Zygier was “found hanged in a cell with state-of-the-art surveillance systems” near Tel Aviv in late 2010.
Originally born in Melbourne, the 34-year-old Zygier had worked for the Israeli spy agency, Mossad, the ABC report said.
Following the revelation, the Tel Aviv regime was forced to admit that Zygier had been jailed under a false identity “for security reasons” despite nearly two years of great efforts to cover up the secret.
The Australian reporter added that he was informed that the editors-in-chief and owners of the Israeli regime’s main media outlets were summoned upon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s order an hour after the ABC report was aired.
“The meeting was addressed by the head of Mossad, Tamir Pardo. Israel's chief censor was also present,” Bormann said.
Bormann went on to say, “The Mossad chief passionately urged media outlets not to report details of the (ABC) 'Foreign Correspondent' program, saying it would deeply embarrass the security services.”
However, an editor present at the meeting told Bormann that “media representatives turned on the Mossad chief,” accusing him of “treating Israeli public like fools.”
Shimon Shiffer also wrote in the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronot that the Tel Aviv regime’s attempts to hush up the story “portrays our decision-makers as an illiterate band of mafiosos protecting narrow interests and looking to whitewash” rather than taking care of Israel’s security.
Mossad agent known as prisoner X linked to killing of Hamas leader: Report
The father of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a Hamas commander, holds up a photograph of his murdered son
The Australian-Israeli ‘Mossad agent’ who has become known as ‘Prisoner X’ may have been linked to the assassination of a Hamas commander in Dubai in 2010, the same year he was found dead in a maximum security jail near Tel Aviv, a report says.
According to a report by the New York Times quoting the Kuwaiti daily Al Jarida on Thursday, Ben Zygier, identified as Prisoner X, was among the 26 suspects in a murder plot in which Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a Hamas official, was tracked and killed in his hotel room hours after his arrival in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, in January 2010.
The assassins had reportedly used fake passports from Australia, Britain, Ireland, Germany and France, among other countries.
The report added that ‘Prisoner X’, who apparently spent a decade working for Mossad, had provided the officials in Dubai with “names and pictures and accurate details” in exchange for protection.
However, the Israeli regime kidnapped him from his hideout and jailed him over treason nearly a month after the operation over the speculation that he had been on the verge of exposing Tel Aviv’s secrets about the passports.
Australian media also quoted a security official familiar with the case as saying that Zygier “may well have been about to blow the whistle, but he never got the chance.”
On Thursday, Australian media also reported that Zygier had been under investigation by Australia’s intelligence services over passport fraud.
The murder plot in Dubai led to diplomatic sanctions against the Tel Aviv regime due to the use of forged passports from European countries and Australia in the operation.
On February 12, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that Ben Zygier was “found hanged in a cell with state-of-the-art surveillance systems” near Tel Aviv in late 2010.
Originally born in Melbourne, the 34-year-old Zygier had worked for the Israeli spy agency, Mossad, the ABC said.
The Israeli regime was forced to admit on Wednesday that Zygier had been jailed under a false identity “for security reasons” after Australian media disclosed the secret despite Israel’s great efforts to keep a lid on the story.
When the story of Dubai plot emerged in 2010, Australian media quoted former Mossad case officer Victor Ostrovsky as saying that the spy agency regularly forges Australian passports for its agents.
‘They need passports because you can't go around with an Israeli passport, not even a forged one, and get away or get involved with people from the Arab world,” Ostrovsky said.
“So most of these (Mossad) operations are carried out on what's called false flag, which means you pretend to be of another country which is less belligerent to those countries that you're trying to recruit from,” he added.
According to Ostrovsky, Mossad has a “very, very expensive research department” dedicated to manufacturing the fake documents.
The Israeli regime, which never accepted responsibility for the Dubai operation, has not commented on the recent report so far.
The Australian-Israeli ‘Mossad agent’ who has become known as ‘Prisoner X’ may have been linked to the assassination of a Hamas commander in Dubai in 2010, the same year he was found dead in a maximum security jail near Tel Aviv, a report says.
According to a report by the New York Times quoting the Kuwaiti daily Al Jarida on Thursday, Ben Zygier, identified as Prisoner X, was among the 26 suspects in a murder plot in which Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a Hamas official, was tracked and killed in his hotel room hours after his arrival in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, in January 2010.
The assassins had reportedly used fake passports from Australia, Britain, Ireland, Germany and France, among other countries.
The report added that ‘Prisoner X’, who apparently spent a decade working for Mossad, had provided the officials in Dubai with “names and pictures and accurate details” in exchange for protection.
However, the Israeli regime kidnapped him from his hideout and jailed him over treason nearly a month after the operation over the speculation that he had been on the verge of exposing Tel Aviv’s secrets about the passports.
Australian media also quoted a security official familiar with the case as saying that Zygier “may well have been about to blow the whistle, but he never got the chance.”
On Thursday, Australian media also reported that Zygier had been under investigation by Australia’s intelligence services over passport fraud.
The murder plot in Dubai led to diplomatic sanctions against the Tel Aviv regime due to the use of forged passports from European countries and Australia in the operation.
On February 12, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that Ben Zygier was “found hanged in a cell with state-of-the-art surveillance systems” near Tel Aviv in late 2010.
Originally born in Melbourne, the 34-year-old Zygier had worked for the Israeli spy agency, Mossad, the ABC said.
The Israeli regime was forced to admit on Wednesday that Zygier had been jailed under a false identity “for security reasons” after Australian media disclosed the secret despite Israel’s great efforts to keep a lid on the story.
When the story of Dubai plot emerged in 2010, Australian media quoted former Mossad case officer Victor Ostrovsky as saying that the spy agency regularly forges Australian passports for its agents.
‘They need passports because you can't go around with an Israeli passport, not even a forged one, and get away or get involved with people from the Arab world,” Ostrovsky said.
“So most of these (Mossad) operations are carried out on what's called false flag, which means you pretend to be of another country which is less belligerent to those countries that you're trying to recruit from,” he added.
According to Ostrovsky, Mossad has a “very, very expensive research department” dedicated to manufacturing the fake documents.
The Israeli regime, which never accepted responsibility for the Dubai operation, has not commented on the recent report so far.
14 feb 2013
Israel confirms it held ‘Mossad agent’ known as Prisoner X
Ben Zygier wearing Israeli military uniform
The Israeli regime confesses that it had secretly imprisoned a reportedly Australian ‘Mossad agent’ who was later found hanged in solitary confinement nearly two years ago.
The Tel Aviv regime was forced to admit on Wednesday that the man, known as ‘Prisoner X,’ had been jailed under a false identity “for security reasons” after Australian media disclosed the secret despite Israel’s great efforts to cover it up.
On February 12, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that Ben Zygier was “found hanged in a cell with state-of-the-art surveillance systems” near Tel Aviv in late 2010.
Originally born in Melbourne, the 34-year-old man with a dual Australian-Israeli citizenship had worked for the Israeli spy agency, Mossad, the ABC reported.
The Israeli justice ministry said, “Following an extensive investigation it was ruled six weeks ago that it was suicide. The prisoner was held in jail under a warrant issued by a court.”
Other details of the case, however, remained under a gag order.
According to the ABC, the detainee “received no visitors and lived hermetically sealed from the outside world” while he was jailed.
Other reports also indicated that even his prison guards did not know his identity.
While the Israeli regime has not exposed the charges against the Prisoner X, the newspaper Australian suggested that he had been detained for treason.
“Why was he interned? The suspicion is because of treason against Israel,” the newspaper cited Israeli Army Radio.
Greg Sheridan, the newspaper’s foreign editor, also said, “If a former Mossad agent has ended up in an Israeli prison, this can only indicate that something has gone terribly wrong.”
Earlier in the day, Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr also confessed that the government knew an Australian had been detained by the Israeli regime in 2010 for security offences.
However, Carr’s recent revelation comes after an earlier statement that he only became aware of the man’s incarceration after his death.
The Israeli regime confesses that it had secretly imprisoned a reportedly Australian ‘Mossad agent’ who was later found hanged in solitary confinement nearly two years ago.
The Tel Aviv regime was forced to admit on Wednesday that the man, known as ‘Prisoner X,’ had been jailed under a false identity “for security reasons” after Australian media disclosed the secret despite Israel’s great efforts to cover it up.
On February 12, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that Ben Zygier was “found hanged in a cell with state-of-the-art surveillance systems” near Tel Aviv in late 2010.
Originally born in Melbourne, the 34-year-old man with a dual Australian-Israeli citizenship had worked for the Israeli spy agency, Mossad, the ABC reported.
The Israeli justice ministry said, “Following an extensive investigation it was ruled six weeks ago that it was suicide. The prisoner was held in jail under a warrant issued by a court.”
Other details of the case, however, remained under a gag order.
According to the ABC, the detainee “received no visitors and lived hermetically sealed from the outside world” while he was jailed.
Other reports also indicated that even his prison guards did not know his identity.
While the Israeli regime has not exposed the charges against the Prisoner X, the newspaper Australian suggested that he had been detained for treason.
“Why was he interned? The suspicion is because of treason against Israel,” the newspaper cited Israeli Army Radio.
Greg Sheridan, the newspaper’s foreign editor, also said, “If a former Mossad agent has ended up in an Israeli prison, this can only indicate that something has gone terribly wrong.”
Earlier in the day, Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr also confessed that the government knew an Australian had been detained by the Israeli regime in 2010 for security offences.
However, Carr’s recent revelation comes after an earlier statement that he only became aware of the man’s incarceration after his death.
Israeli Premier Netanyahu threatened media over Prisoner X: Report
Ayalon prison near Tel Aviv, where ‘Prisoner X’ committed suicide in 2010
A report says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had issued threats to stifle the media regarding the case of a reportedly Australian ‘Mossad agent’ before having to admit his secret detention in 2010.
According to a report by the Guardian on Thursday, the Israeli regime was forced to acknowledge the existence of ‘Prisoner X’ following a two-year effort to gag any media reports about the case.
On February 12, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that Ben Zygier was “found hanged in a cell with state-of-the-art surveillance systems” near Tel Aviv in late 2010.
Originally born in Melbourne, the 34-year-old man with a dual Australian-Israeli citizenship had worked for the Israeli spy agency, Mossad, the ABC said.
The Israeli regime was forced to admit the prisoner’s existence after Australian media disclosed the secret.
The Guardian further wrote that the controversial case “saw the office of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, threaten editors with fines or jail if they disclosed details about the case earlier this week.”
Israeli newspaper Haaretz also reported that Netanyahu had called for an urgent meeting with top editors on February 12 to ask them to withhold “publication of information pertaining to an incident that is very embarrassing to a certain government agency,” apparently referring to Mossad.
The story first emerged in June 2010, when Israeli Ynet news website published a brief report regarding the Prisoner X without elaborating. However, the story was quickly taken offline until the ABC resurfaced the case.
According to the Guardian, the Tel Aviv regime’s efforts to stifle media “backfired as Israel faced a deluge of embarrassing revelations about the case which appeared to expose the detailed workings of its overseas intelligence agency in the most graphic detail, as well as the growing irritation of Israel’s allies over the Mossad’s behavior.”
The revelation came after it emerged that Zygier had been accused by Australian journalist Jason Koutsoukis at Fairfax newspapers of being a spy shortly before his arrest.
Koutsoukis had also said Zygier was under investigation by Australia’s intelligence services and was about to be arrested over using his Australian passport for spying.
The journalist had also angered Zygier by asking if he came back to Australia to change his identity and get a new Australian passport for espionage.
The Guardian further wrote that the issue of the Mossad operations involving citizens of its allied nations and use of their passports has led to serious friction with the regime’s friends over the recent years.
“There are informal rules,” said a source familiar with intelligence co-operations, the Guardian reported.
“You inform your allies if you want to speak to someone or do something. There is a feeling the Israelis don’t play by the rules.”
A report says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had issued threats to stifle the media regarding the case of a reportedly Australian ‘Mossad agent’ before having to admit his secret detention in 2010.
According to a report by the Guardian on Thursday, the Israeli regime was forced to acknowledge the existence of ‘Prisoner X’ following a two-year effort to gag any media reports about the case.
On February 12, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that Ben Zygier was “found hanged in a cell with state-of-the-art surveillance systems” near Tel Aviv in late 2010.
Originally born in Melbourne, the 34-year-old man with a dual Australian-Israeli citizenship had worked for the Israeli spy agency, Mossad, the ABC said.
The Israeli regime was forced to admit the prisoner’s existence after Australian media disclosed the secret.
The Guardian further wrote that the controversial case “saw the office of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, threaten editors with fines or jail if they disclosed details about the case earlier this week.”
Israeli newspaper Haaretz also reported that Netanyahu had called for an urgent meeting with top editors on February 12 to ask them to withhold “publication of information pertaining to an incident that is very embarrassing to a certain government agency,” apparently referring to Mossad.
The story first emerged in June 2010, when Israeli Ynet news website published a brief report regarding the Prisoner X without elaborating. However, the story was quickly taken offline until the ABC resurfaced the case.
According to the Guardian, the Tel Aviv regime’s efforts to stifle media “backfired as Israel faced a deluge of embarrassing revelations about the case which appeared to expose the detailed workings of its overseas intelligence agency in the most graphic detail, as well as the growing irritation of Israel’s allies over the Mossad’s behavior.”
The revelation came after it emerged that Zygier had been accused by Australian journalist Jason Koutsoukis at Fairfax newspapers of being a spy shortly before his arrest.
Koutsoukis had also said Zygier was under investigation by Australia’s intelligence services and was about to be arrested over using his Australian passport for spying.
The journalist had also angered Zygier by asking if he came back to Australia to change his identity and get a new Australian passport for espionage.
The Guardian further wrote that the issue of the Mossad operations involving citizens of its allied nations and use of their passports has led to serious friction with the regime’s friends over the recent years.
“There are informal rules,” said a source familiar with intelligence co-operations, the Guardian reported.
“You inform your allies if you want to speak to someone or do something. There is a feeling the Israelis don’t play by the rules.”
13 feb 2013
Report: Australia seeks explanation over 'Prisoner X'
ABC network, which aired investigation on alleged Mossad agent who died in Israeli prison, says Israeli ambassador to Australia met with opposition official, said he would pass her concerns to 'relevant authorities' in Jerusalem.
Israel's ambassador to Australia met Wednesday with opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop for a pre-arranged meeting, the ABC network reported.
Speaking before the meeting, Bishop said she would be raising the issue of alleged Mossad agent Ben Zygier, who had died in an Israeli prison, with the ambassador.
She said she was concerned the Israeli government was censoring media reports.
"That's a matter that I'll raise directly with the Israeli embassy to get an understanding of the basis for it," she said.
"If there are security considerations I can understand it, but if it's just about embarrassing a government agency, then that certainly requires an explanation and I'll be seeking one."
Bishop's spokesman said the ambassador undertook to pass on her concerns to "relevant authorities" in Israel.
ABC aired an investigation on Tuesday revealing that Ben Zygier, an Australian national who was held in complete isolation at the Ayalon Prison in Ramla, had died in a high-security cell in late 2010. According to official documents, he committed suicide.
The report claimed that in the years before his arrest the man had worked for the Mossad spy agency. The State, the report said, made efforts to keep the case – and the prisoner's existence – a secret.
The ABC inquiry noted that intelligence organizations in Australia were aware of the fact that local Jews were being recruited by the Mossad. According to estimates, the recruits change their Jewish names and issue new passports allowing them to enter Arab or Muslim countries like Iran.
Warren Reed, a former intelligence operative for Australia's overseas spy agency ASIS, told ABC's Foreign Correspondent that Australians were ideal recruits for Mossad.
"Australians abroad are generally seen to be fairly innocent," he said. "It's a clean country - it has a good image like New Zealand.
"There aren't many countries like that, so our nationality and anything connected with it can be very useful in intelligence work."
The inquiry also mentioned the exposure of the cell which assassinated Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai in early 2010, which used Australian passports as well.
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said he was concerned by the claims.
"Those allegations certainly do trouble me," Carr said. "It's never been raised with me. I'm not reluctant to seek an explanation from the Israeli government about what happened to Mr. Allen (Zygier) and about what their view of it is.
"The difficulty is I'm advised we've had no contact with his family (and) there's been no request for consular assistance during the period it's alleged he was in prison."
Carr told ABC that in the absence of a complaint by Zygier's family, there was little for the Australian government to act upon.
Israel's ambassador to Australia met Wednesday with opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop for a pre-arranged meeting, the ABC network reported.
Speaking before the meeting, Bishop said she would be raising the issue of alleged Mossad agent Ben Zygier, who had died in an Israeli prison, with the ambassador.
She said she was concerned the Israeli government was censoring media reports.
"That's a matter that I'll raise directly with the Israeli embassy to get an understanding of the basis for it," she said.
"If there are security considerations I can understand it, but if it's just about embarrassing a government agency, then that certainly requires an explanation and I'll be seeking one."
Bishop's spokesman said the ambassador undertook to pass on her concerns to "relevant authorities" in Israel.
ABC aired an investigation on Tuesday revealing that Ben Zygier, an Australian national who was held in complete isolation at the Ayalon Prison in Ramla, had died in a high-security cell in late 2010. According to official documents, he committed suicide.
The report claimed that in the years before his arrest the man had worked for the Mossad spy agency. The State, the report said, made efforts to keep the case – and the prisoner's existence – a secret.
The ABC inquiry noted that intelligence organizations in Australia were aware of the fact that local Jews were being recruited by the Mossad. According to estimates, the recruits change their Jewish names and issue new passports allowing them to enter Arab or Muslim countries like Iran.
Warren Reed, a former intelligence operative for Australia's overseas spy agency ASIS, told ABC's Foreign Correspondent that Australians were ideal recruits for Mossad.
"Australians abroad are generally seen to be fairly innocent," he said. "It's a clean country - it has a good image like New Zealand.
"There aren't many countries like that, so our nationality and anything connected with it can be very useful in intelligence work."
The inquiry also mentioned the exposure of the cell which assassinated Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai in early 2010, which used Australian passports as well.
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said he was concerned by the claims.
"Those allegations certainly do trouble me," Carr said. "It's never been raised with me. I'm not reluctant to seek an explanation from the Israeli government about what happened to Mr. Allen (Zygier) and about what their view of it is.
"The difficulty is I'm advised we've had no contact with his family (and) there's been no request for consular assistance during the period it's alleged he was in prison."
Carr told ABC that in the absence of a complaint by Zygier's family, there was little for the Australian government to act upon.
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Zygier during his wedding
Prisoner found hanged in his cell The 28-minute program revealed that Ben Zygier, who was in his 30s when he died, used the name Ben Alon while living in Israel. He was married to an Israeli woman and had two small children. According to the investigation, the prisoner was found hanged in a cell which was equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance systems installed to prevent suicide. |
Since his death, the inmate's presence has been acknowledged by neither the jail system nor the government.
According to the ABC inquiry, the case is regarded as one of the most sensitive secrets of Israel's intelligence community, with the government going to extraordinary lengths to stifle media coverage and gag attempts by human rights organizations to expose the situation.
Zygier's relatives and acquaintances, who were asked to comment on the report, refused to cooperate as well.
Zygier 'disappeared' in early 2010 According to the report, the Prisoner X cell is a jail within a jail at Ayalon Prison in the city of Ramla. It was built for the assassin of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. ABC said Zygier became its occupant in early 2010. His incarceration was so secret that it is claimed not even guards knew his identity.
Israeli media at the time reported that this Prisoner X received no visitors and lived hermetically sealed from the outside world.
ABC's Foreign Correspondent revealed that Zygier was 34 at the time of his death and had moved to Israel about 10 years earlier. He was married to an Israeli woman and had two small children.
Zygier's arrest and jailing in Israel remains a mystery, but ABC revealed that he was recruited by spy agency Mossad.
It is understood Zygier "disappeared" in early 2010, spending several months in the Prisoner X cell.
Zygier's apparent suicide in prison adds to the mystery. He was found hanged in a cell which was equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance systems installed to prevent suicide. Guards reportedly tried unsuccessfully to revive him.
His body was retrieved and flown to Melbourne. He was buried in Chevra Kadisha Jewish cemetery in the suburb of Springvale on December 22, seven days after his death.
According to the ABC inquiry, the case is regarded as one of the most sensitive secrets of Israel's intelligence community, with the government going to extraordinary lengths to stifle media coverage and gag attempts by human rights organizations to expose the situation.
Zygier's relatives and acquaintances, who were asked to comment on the report, refused to cooperate as well.
Zygier 'disappeared' in early 2010 According to the report, the Prisoner X cell is a jail within a jail at Ayalon Prison in the city of Ramla. It was built for the assassin of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. ABC said Zygier became its occupant in early 2010. His incarceration was so secret that it is claimed not even guards knew his identity.
Israeli media at the time reported that this Prisoner X received no visitors and lived hermetically sealed from the outside world.
ABC's Foreign Correspondent revealed that Zygier was 34 at the time of his death and had moved to Israel about 10 years earlier. He was married to an Israeli woman and had two small children.
Zygier's arrest and jailing in Israel remains a mystery, but ABC revealed that he was recruited by spy agency Mossad.
It is understood Zygier "disappeared" in early 2010, spending several months in the Prisoner X cell.
Zygier's apparent suicide in prison adds to the mystery. He was found hanged in a cell which was equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance systems installed to prevent suicide. Guards reportedly tried unsuccessfully to revive him.
His body was retrieved and flown to Melbourne. He was buried in Chevra Kadisha Jewish cemetery in the suburb of Springvale on December 22, seven days after his death.
Australian citizen killed self in Israeli jail: Report
Australian citizen Ben Zygier
A report says that a prisoner who has reportedly killed himself under mysterious circumstances in a high-security Israeli jail in 2010 was an Australian citizen.
According to a report released by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Tuesday, Ben Zygier, known in media as Prisoner X, was born in Melbourne. The report claimed that the 34-year-old man had worked for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
The ABC report also added that Zygier “was found hanged in a cell with state-of-the-art surveillance systems,” in late 2010, following several months’ detention.
This is while, Tel Aviv reportedly concealed the existence of the prisoner and the story.
On Wednesday, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also confirmed in a statement that the detainee was an Australian citizen.
“The Australian Embassy in Tel Aviv was unaware of this Australian's detention until his death was reported by his family, who requested repatriation of his remains,” the statement said.
Reports say that the Australian Mossad agent was being held secretly at Ayalon prison in Ramle, situated in central Israel.
There were no official comments from the Israeli officials with regard to the report.
A report says that a prisoner who has reportedly killed himself under mysterious circumstances in a high-security Israeli jail in 2010 was an Australian citizen.
According to a report released by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Tuesday, Ben Zygier, known in media as Prisoner X, was born in Melbourne. The report claimed that the 34-year-old man had worked for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
The ABC report also added that Zygier “was found hanged in a cell with state-of-the-art surveillance systems,” in late 2010, following several months’ detention.
This is while, Tel Aviv reportedly concealed the existence of the prisoner and the story.
On Wednesday, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also confirmed in a statement that the detainee was an Australian citizen.
“The Australian Embassy in Tel Aviv was unaware of this Australian's detention until his death was reported by his family, who requested repatriation of his remains,” the statement said.
Reports say that the Australian Mossad agent was being held secretly at Ayalon prison in Ramle, situated in central Israel.
There were no official comments from the Israeli officials with regard to the report.
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Ben Zygier Visited Iran Undercover for Mossad, Recruited Saudi, Iranian Students at Australian University
Israel has just released (Hebrew and English) its first official statement about its treatment of Ben Zygier. It has acknowledged without specifically naming him that it held a prisoner under a fictitious name and that the prisoner died in custody.
The State said that it had notified Zygier’s family of his detention. It said it would investigate the possibility of negligence in his treatment while in prison. In an effort to address the charge that Zygier received shoddy judicial treatment, the government also revealed that he had lawyers. He was represented by the same firm that represented Ehud Olmert and which often deals in cases with the security apparatus. But they are not attorneys known for taking on human rights cases. The claim by the State that Zygier was afforded all rights due to him as a citizen and that all legal proceedings were proper seems either laughable on its face or an outright lie. The statement also claims Zygier was held under the auspices of the justice ministry. The minister is Yaakov Neeman, the same individual who spoke from the Knesset rostrum answsering questions of MKs yesterday claiming that he knew nothing of the case and that Zygier was never under his ministry’s jurisdiction. An outright lie. A further odd development in the story is the news that Zygier, who trained as a lawyer, interned in the legal firm of the current justice minister: none other than Mr. Neeman! An Israeli judge oversaw a supposed investigation into the circumstances of his death, but the findings are secret. Six weeks ago, the file was allegedly sent by the judge to the State prosecutor for investigation of the possibility of negligence involved in the death. This is supposed to satisfy us I suppose. |
Besides the three MKs who asking probing questions of Neeman that elicited his lies, another hero of the proceedings was Binyamin Ben Eliezer, acting Speaker, who was asked by the military censor to tell MKs that there was a gag order in place that prohibited discussion of the matter. Ben Eliezer refused to relay the message to the legislators and the debate continued without interruption.
The Prisoner X-Ben Zygier case continues to develop. I will be interviewed by Israeli Channel 10′s Tzinor Layla at 12 midnight Israel time. It will be the first story up in the program. The Social TV video above was recorded about 48 hours ago and reflects what I knew at the time. But it’s still useful as an overview of the entire case.
The Sydney Morning Herald has an interesting report that includes material they reported back in 2010 about Zygier’s spying within Australia on behalf of the Mossad. He was accused then by Australia’s intelligence agency of applying multiple times for passports in different names including Ben Alon, Ben Allen and Benjamin Burrows. This is a sure sign among the world’s intelligence agencies that their nation’s passports are being used for espionage purposes.
This occurred shortly before three passports of Australian-Israeli dual citizens were cloned by the Mossad and used in the assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabouh. Though there isn’t necessarily any direct connection between Zygier’s activities and the Dubai episode.
The news report also notes that Zygier enrolled at Monash University (where his mother worked) in an MBA program. While there he was allegedly seen socializing on campus with groups of Saudi and Iranian students. This might mean that just as Zygier himself was recruited to the Mossad, he may’ve been recruiting potential agents. Presumably these students would eventually return to their home countries where they might serve useful purposes for Israeli intelligence.
It appears likely that Zygier used his new passports for travel to Iran (and also possibly Lebanon and Syria). I reported that the ships of Israel’s Ofer Brothers were suspected by the U.S. of breaking the international sanctions regime against Iran. The reason they did was, at least in part, to ferry Mossad agents to and from Iran. One of them may possibly have been Zygier. In addition, several of the agents involved in the al-Mabouh assassination left Dubai via ferry to Iran. Israel is known to have an MEK-facilitated spy network inside Iran which helped in the nuclear scientist assassinations and other sabotage efforts. It’s possible an Ofer Brothers ship took those agents back to Israel. Again, this is speculation but based on known facts I’ve reported earlier.
What’s important about this is that these three countries are places in which the Mossad is very active (or wishes to be). In Iran, the Mossad has participated in acts of terror against the regime including the assassination of five nuclear scientists. Israel has also attacked Syria at least twice in the past four years, which required on the ground assistance from either agents or special forces who infiltrated the country in both cases. Israel also assassinated Imad Mugniyeh and a Syrian general in the past few years. Each would’ve required agents covertly operating on Syria territory.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has asked the Israeli government to remove the gag order in this case. It also posed several pressing questions about how it treated Ben Zygier after he was arrested. Among them, it asked on what basis Israel determined that Zygier had committed suicide and whether there was any evidence his death may’ve occured through other means. This is an allusion to rumors that he may’ve been murdered in prison by the authorities. Though I stress that these are rumors and not established facts.
The Prisoner X-Ben Zygier case continues to develop. I will be interviewed by Israeli Channel 10′s Tzinor Layla at 12 midnight Israel time. It will be the first story up in the program. The Social TV video above was recorded about 48 hours ago and reflects what I knew at the time. But it’s still useful as an overview of the entire case.
The Sydney Morning Herald has an interesting report that includes material they reported back in 2010 about Zygier’s spying within Australia on behalf of the Mossad. He was accused then by Australia’s intelligence agency of applying multiple times for passports in different names including Ben Alon, Ben Allen and Benjamin Burrows. This is a sure sign among the world’s intelligence agencies that their nation’s passports are being used for espionage purposes.
This occurred shortly before three passports of Australian-Israeli dual citizens were cloned by the Mossad and used in the assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabouh. Though there isn’t necessarily any direct connection between Zygier’s activities and the Dubai episode.
The news report also notes that Zygier enrolled at Monash University (where his mother worked) in an MBA program. While there he was allegedly seen socializing on campus with groups of Saudi and Iranian students. This might mean that just as Zygier himself was recruited to the Mossad, he may’ve been recruiting potential agents. Presumably these students would eventually return to their home countries where they might serve useful purposes for Israeli intelligence.
It appears likely that Zygier used his new passports for travel to Iran (and also possibly Lebanon and Syria). I reported that the ships of Israel’s Ofer Brothers were suspected by the U.S. of breaking the international sanctions regime against Iran. The reason they did was, at least in part, to ferry Mossad agents to and from Iran. One of them may possibly have been Zygier. In addition, several of the agents involved in the al-Mabouh assassination left Dubai via ferry to Iran. Israel is known to have an MEK-facilitated spy network inside Iran which helped in the nuclear scientist assassinations and other sabotage efforts. It’s possible an Ofer Brothers ship took those agents back to Israel. Again, this is speculation but based on known facts I’ve reported earlier.
What’s important about this is that these three countries are places in which the Mossad is very active (or wishes to be). In Iran, the Mossad has participated in acts of terror against the regime including the assassination of five nuclear scientists. Israel has also attacked Syria at least twice in the past four years, which required on the ground assistance from either agents or special forces who infiltrated the country in both cases. Israel also assassinated Imad Mugniyeh and a Syrian general in the past few years. Each would’ve required agents covertly operating on Syria territory.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has asked the Israeli government to remove the gag order in this case. It also posed several pressing questions about how it treated Ben Zygier after he was arrested. Among them, it asked on what basis Israel determined that Zygier had committed suicide and whether there was any evidence his death may’ve occured through other means. This is an allusion to rumors that he may’ve been murdered in prison by the authorities. Though I stress that these are rumors and not established facts.
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Court's gag order in Zygier's case
ACRI also asks who was monitoring the prisoner and why they allowed him to kill himself? Which agency and specific personnel were responsible? What, if any actions were taken in the aftermath of his death? Regarding his detention by the Mossad/Shin Bet, what actions did they take to determine how Zygier was able to do the things he did which may’ve endangered Israel. Was there any internal review of the entire incident and what were the results of it? |
In the national security state, questions are almost never answered transparently or publicly, but it’s important they be asked to hold officials responsible.
I spoke today with a representative of an Israeli human rights NGO and asked what he knew about any legal process that might’ve happened in Zygier’s case. I’ve heard Channel 10′s chief political correspondent interviewed yesterday, saying there was none. But this human rights officer said he couldn’t comment on the matter. Which is exceedingly interesting. It could mean, if Channel 10′s report is correct, that Zygier received no due process or trial, in which case Israel was had violated its own laws and rights of not just an Israeli citizen, but an Australian citizen. This would involve grave implications for Australia-Israel relations. Or it could mean Zygier received some sort of secret Israeli trial which again would be unprecedented under Israeli law. The only other individual whose treatment parallels this was KGB spy, Marcus Klingberg, who I’ve mentioned in previous posts on this issue.
I just spoke to an Israeli human rights lawyer who believes that Zygier was likely afforded some very basis legal process, but that it is unprecedented for there to be a secret indictment, secret trial, and secret detention. He also believes if that is the case, Zygier had to have an attorney. Given what transpired I believe it’s unlikely an Israeli attorney would want to own up to the fact that his or her representation was so ineffective that his client despaired and killed himself. I also believe it’s unprecedented for there to remain a gag order against discussing a case years after the defendant has died.
Yesterday, 28,000 people visited this site, one of the largest amounts of visitors ever seen here. By noon today, I expect nearly 10,000 visitors. Over 60% came from Israel, starving for information on this case of vital national importance. It’s disturbing they couldn’t turn to their own press for original reporting. The partial Israel gag allows only reporting on this story originating abroad. Imagine you live in Paducah and there’s a corruption scandal involving the city council. But the police chief tells your local paper it can’t report on the story. Instead the only source of information you have will be a newspaper reporting from Toronto or Melbourne. Make sense? That’s Israel for you.
If you read Hebrew, the Israeli news portal Mako interviewed me yesterday. Here’s the report.
I spoke today with a representative of an Israeli human rights NGO and asked what he knew about any legal process that might’ve happened in Zygier’s case. I’ve heard Channel 10′s chief political correspondent interviewed yesterday, saying there was none. But this human rights officer said he couldn’t comment on the matter. Which is exceedingly interesting. It could mean, if Channel 10′s report is correct, that Zygier received no due process or trial, in which case Israel was had violated its own laws and rights of not just an Israeli citizen, but an Australian citizen. This would involve grave implications for Australia-Israel relations. Or it could mean Zygier received some sort of secret Israeli trial which again would be unprecedented under Israeli law. The only other individual whose treatment parallels this was KGB spy, Marcus Klingberg, who I’ve mentioned in previous posts on this issue.
I just spoke to an Israeli human rights lawyer who believes that Zygier was likely afforded some very basis legal process, but that it is unprecedented for there to be a secret indictment, secret trial, and secret detention. He also believes if that is the case, Zygier had to have an attorney. Given what transpired I believe it’s unlikely an Israeli attorney would want to own up to the fact that his or her representation was so ineffective that his client despaired and killed himself. I also believe it’s unprecedented for there to remain a gag order against discussing a case years after the defendant has died.
Yesterday, 28,000 people visited this site, one of the largest amounts of visitors ever seen here. By noon today, I expect nearly 10,000 visitors. Over 60% came from Israel, starving for information on this case of vital national importance. It’s disturbing they couldn’t turn to their own press for original reporting. The partial Israel gag allows only reporting on this story originating abroad. Imagine you live in Paducah and there’s a corruption scandal involving the city council. But the police chief tells your local paper it can’t report on the story. Instead the only source of information you have will be a newspaper reporting from Toronto or Melbourne. Make sense? That’s Israel for you.
If you read Hebrew, the Israeli news portal Mako interviewed me yesterday. Here’s the report.
22 jan 2013
Lebanon Nabs a Spy for Israel
The Lebanese army has arrested a citizen suspected of collaborating with Israel, the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV reported on Monday.
Ali Taufiq Yari, a former member of the Baalbek City Council, was branded as the highest paid spy to date, as he was said to have received $600,000 for his service to the Jewish state.
According to the report, Yari began working with Israel's Mossad in 1990, and had undergone intelligence training that taught him to use invisible ink, concealed radio devices and other means of communication.
Various reports in Lebanon have claimed that several Israeli spy rings have been uncovered in recent years, including a major one that consisted of dozens of agents. Israeli espionage equipment was also periodically "exposed" in the country.
According to Monday's report, Yari had visited Israel more than once using a fake Palestinian passport. The alleged spy was also said to have travelled to Europe and Asia to meet with his Israeli handlers.
He purportedly provided Israel with intelligence on Hezbollah hubs and its communication network. He further reported on the Lebanese army and top members in the Shiite Amal movement.
The significant information he managed to pass on to Israeli intelligence officials during the Second Lebanon War prompted the Mossad to hold a ceremony in his honor, the report said.
Ali Taufiq Yari, a former member of the Baalbek City Council, was branded as the highest paid spy to date, as he was said to have received $600,000 for his service to the Jewish state.
According to the report, Yari began working with Israel's Mossad in 1990, and had undergone intelligence training that taught him to use invisible ink, concealed radio devices and other means of communication.
Various reports in Lebanon have claimed that several Israeli spy rings have been uncovered in recent years, including a major one that consisted of dozens of agents. Israeli espionage equipment was also periodically "exposed" in the country.
According to Monday's report, Yari had visited Israel more than once using a fake Palestinian passport. The alleged spy was also said to have travelled to Europe and Asia to meet with his Israeli handlers.
He purportedly provided Israel with intelligence on Hezbollah hubs and its communication network. He further reported on the Lebanese army and top members in the Shiite Amal movement.
The significant information he managed to pass on to Israeli intelligence officials during the Second Lebanon War prompted the Mossad to hold a ceremony in his honor, the report said.
