Israeli spy claims over Christchurch earthquake

New Zealand prime minister confirms, but then plays down, investigation over Israeli victim said to have held five passports

guardian.co.uk, Toby Manhire in Auckland, Wednesday 20 July 2011

A New Zealand newspaper has suggested an Israeli spy was one of the
 victims of the Christchurch earthquake. Photograph: Martin Hunter /
Associated Press

New Zealand intelligence services launched an investigation into a possible Israeli spy operation in Christchurch after suspicious activity was observed in the immediate aftermath of the February earthquake, the New Zealand prime minister, John Key, has confirmed.

But Key insisted the investigation had been completed with no evidence found of wrongdoing.

Inquiries centred on a potential breach of the national police computer system.

According to a report in the Southland Times, the investigation was prompted by the departure from New Zealand of three Israeli citizens within hours of the 22 February quake and the discovery of as many as five passports on one of three Israelis killed.

There were reports of an unauthorised Israeli search and rescue team that was refused entry to Christchurch's cordoned-off central business district.

There was widespread speculation in New Zealand that the country could be facing asequel to the events of 2004, when Helen Clark's government imposed diplomatic sanctions on Israel after two suspected Mossad agents were convicted of passport fraud in Auckland. The Israeli government apologised the following year.

The prime minister, who is visiting the US, initially did little to dampen suggestions of another diplomatic imbroglio when he evaded reporters' questions, insisting "it is not in the national interest to discuss those matters", while confirming he had taken "a number of calls" from the Israeli premier, Binyamin Netanyahu, in the hours after the Christchurch earthquake.

Later in the day Key moved to dismiss spying claims. In a statement he said the investigation had been concluded and there was no evidence of subterfuge. "Security agencies conducted the investigation and found no evidence that the people were anything other than backpackers."

Key said he had been advised that reports of Israeli citizens carrying multiple passports were ill-founded and he was satisfied with police assurances that there had been no unauthorised access to the police computer system.

"The investigations that have been undertaken have been thorough and have found no evidence of a link between the group and Israeli intelligence."

The author of the Southland Times article, Fred Tulett, stood by his story, saying that contrary to Key's remarks the investigation was continuing. He maintained that five passports had been in the possession of the Israeli who was killed, Benyamin Mizrahi.

Key said the man was found with a European passport. His companions handed over a second passport, his Israeli one, when they left the country.

The Israeli ambassador for the South Pacific, Shemi Tzur, said any suggestion of a Mossad presence in Christchurch was "science fiction". The Israeli citizens had returned home following the death of a friend whose van was crushed, he said.

The Israeli rescue teams, he added, were refused entry because they lacked the necessary authorisation but were there for the right reasons and were left "angry and upset".

He told the Southland Times: "Yes, there was some regrettable history of Mossad involvement in New Zealand in 2004, and they have apologised for that and we have put it beyond us. Now we are moving forward."

The bill was proposed by the hardline party of
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman

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