DATE=2/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227382
TITLE=ISRAEL / MOSSAD (L)
BYLINE=AL PESSIN
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ISRAEL HAS FORMALLY APOLOGIZED TO SWITZERLAND FOR AN
INCIDENT IN WHICH ISRAELI MOSSAD INTELLIGENCE AGENTS WERE
ARRESTED IN THE SWISS CAPITAL, AND THEN ISRAELI OFFICIALS LEAKED
NEWS OF THE EVENT. V-O-A'S AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM.
TEXT: ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN AVIV SHIRON SAYS THE
APOLOGY WAS DELIVERED TO THE SWISS FOREIGN MINISTRY IN BERN BY
ISRAEL'S AMBASSADOR ON FRIDAY. MR. SHIRON SAYS IT WAS SIGNED BY
THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY, EITAN BEN
TZUR.
/// SHIRON ACTUALITY ///
BEN TZUR ACTUALLY EXPRESSES REGRET IN THE NAME OF THE
STATE OF ISRAEL ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND THE COMPLICATIONS
CAUSED BY IT TO THE SWISS GOVERNMENT.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
SWITZERLAND HAD DEMANDED THE APOLOGY AS A CONDITION FOR RELEASING
THE ONE ISRAELI AGENT IT STILL HOLDS IN THE CASE. MR. SHIRON
INDICATED ISRAEL HOPES THIS LETTER WILL FULFILL THAT REQUIREMENT.
/// SHIRON ACTUALITY ///
WE EXPECT THAT IT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO A SPEEDY RESULT OF
THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE NOW ON THE AGENDA, AND THAT THE
GOOD RELATIONS WOULD CONTINUE.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
THE MAN IN CUSTODY AND FOUR OTHER AGENTS WERE ARRESTED WHILE
ALLEGEDLY PLANTING LISTENING DEVICES LAST WEEK IN AN APARTMENT
BUILDING IN BERN, WHERE ONE OF THE TENANTS WAS SUSPECTED OF BEING
CONNECTED TO A PALESTINIAN OR LEBANESE MILITANT GROUP. THE FOUR
OTHER AGENTS FLED SWITZERLAND AFTER LOCAL POLICE RELEASED THEM ON
THE NIGHT OF THE INCIDENT.
THE SWISS AND ISRAELI GOVERNMENTS WERE HANDLING THE INCIDENT
QUIETLY UNTIL LEAKS FROM MOSSAD BROUGHT THE STORY TO LIGHT THIS
WEEK, ANGERING BOTH ISRAELI AND SWISS LEADERS.
THE MOSSAD DIRECTOR RESIGNED ON TUESDAY, PARTLY BECAUSE OF THIS
INCIDENT BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF ANOTHER BOTCHED OPERATION IN JORDAN
LAST YEAR. THAT PROBLEM CAUSED ISRAEL EVEN GREATER EMBARRASSMENT
AND FORCED IT TO RELEASE DOZENS OF PALESTINIAN PRISONERS TO EASE
THE ANGER OF KING HUSSEIN.
ISRAELI OFFICIALS AND COMMENTATORS SAY THE SWITZERLAND INCIDENT
IS NOT AS SERIOUS, BUT THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT IT WAS LEAKED BY
MOSSAD OFFICIALS SWORN TO KEEP SECRETS. THE MOSSAD PEOPLE WERE
APPARENTLY TRYING TO SPEED THEIR BOSS' RESIGNATION BECAUSE THEY
WERE DISGRUNTLED ABOUT HIS PERFORMANCE AND OTHER INTERNAL ISSUES.
(SIGNED)
NEB/AWP/JWH
27-Feb-98 10:54 AM EST (1554 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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