DATE=2/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226811
TITLE=ISRAEL / MOSSAD (L)
BYLINE=AL PESSIN
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A SPECIAL ISRAELI GOVERNMENT COMMISSION HAS CLEARED PRIME
MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU OF ANY WRONGDOING IN THE BOTCHED
ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE A HAMAS LEADER IN JORDAN LAST SEPTEMBER.
V-O-A'S AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM.
TEXT: THE REPORT BLAMES THE FAILED OPERATION ON OVER-CONFIDENCE
IN ISRAEL'S MOSSAD INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, AND ON POOR PLANNING BY
ITS DIRECTOR, DANNY YATOM. MR. YATOM IS EXPECTED TO LOSE HIS JOB
BECAUSE OF THE AFFAIR, BUT PERHAPS NOT IMMEDIATELY.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE THREE-MEMBER COMMISSION CONCLUDED PRIME
MINISTER NETANYAHU GAVE APPROVAL FOR THE MISSION AFTER FOLLOWING
ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES AND CONSIDERING ALL FACTORS HE COULD
REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO CONSIDER.
CRITICS REJECT THAT CONTENTION, SAYING THE OPERATION RISKED
DESTROYING ISRAEL'S RELATIONS WITH JORDAN AND SHOULD NEVER HAVE
BEEN TRIED, IN SPITE OF THE MOSSAD'S HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE.
PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU SAID MONDAY HE DOES NOT EXPECT ANY
SIMILAR OPERATIONS IN JORDAN IN THE FUTURE. BUT HE EMPHASIZED
THAT ISRAEL WILL CONTINUE TO ATTACK TERRORISTS WHEREVER IT IS
NECESSARY TO DO SO.
/// NETANYAHU ACT - HEBREW - FADE UNDER ///
MR. NETANYAHU SAID THERE IS AN UNDERSTANDING WITH JORDAN ABOUT
JOINT EFFORTS TO COMBAT MILITANT GROUPS LIKE HAMAS, BUT, HE SAID,
ISRAEL IS NOT PREPARED TO GIVE TERRORISTS "IMMUNITY" ANYWHERE.
IT WAS LAST SEPTEMBER 25TH IN AMMAN THAT MOSSAD AGENTS ATTACKED
HAMAS LEADER KHALED MESHAL, BUMPING INTO HIM AND INJECTING HIM
WITH A SLOW-ACTING POISON. THE AGENTS WERE TO HAVE BEEN LONG
GONE BEFORE MR. MESHAL EVEN GOT SICK. BUT THE AGENTS WERE
CAPTURED AND EXPOSED.
JORDAN'S KING HUSSEIN, WHO MADE PEACE WITH ISRAEL IN 1994, WAS
FURIOUS ABOUT THE ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE OPERATION IN HIS CAPITAL
CITY. HE INSISTED THAT ISRAEL PROVIDE THE ANTIDOTE TO KEEP MR.
MESHAL ALIVE. AND AS A CONDITION FOR ALLOWING THE MOSSAD AGENTS
TO RETURN HOME, THE KING FORCED MR. NETANYAHU TO RELEASE THE
HAMAS SPIRITUAL LEADER, SHEIKH AHMED YASSIN, AND DOZENS OF OTHER
PALESTINIANS HELD IN ISRAELI JAILS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AWP/JWH
16-Feb-98 9:06 AM EST (1406 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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