Israeli officials refused to comment Thursday on reports that Israel and the Soviet Union were negotiating for the release of a Jewish emigre serving an 18-year prison sentence in Israel as a Soviet spy.
The report in the West German daily Die Welt said the case of Professor Markus Klinkberg, reportedly sentenced in 1983, was discussed by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres with Soviet officials whom he met in Madrid this week while attending a meeting of the Socialist International Council.
According to Die Welt, Klinkberg’s release was Moscow’s precondition for restoring normal relations with Israel.
The 60-year-old biologist came to Israel as an emigrant from the Soviet Union. He was deputy director general of the Biological Institute in Ness Ziona. According to Die Welt, his frequent trips to Switzerland for “medical reasons” were a cover for contacts with Soviet agents.
Die Welt said Klinkberg’s wife lives in Israel. His daughter, Silvia, lives in Paris. She was reportedly active in left-wing circles and initiated the negotiations for her father’s release.
The Hebrew weekly Israel Shelanu, published in New York reported that the Soviets are interested in a deal that would include the release of Shabtai Kalmanovitz, an Israeli businessman held here on suspicion of spying for the Soviet Union.
There have been frequent rumors that the Soviets have tried to plant spies among Jewish immigrants. Kalmanovitz’s is the only such case known until now.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
