The Soviet leading newspaper Izvestia, organ of the Soviet Government, today reported that seven Israel citizens have been deported for alleged “espionage” activities.
The paper indicated that three other Israelis were also expelled after coming to the USSR “in the guise of tourists” to spread Zionist propaganda and engage in espionage activities with alleged connivance of the Israeli Embassy. The newspaper did not say when the alleged acts took place.
An Israel Embassy spokesman told the press in Moscow that he knew of no recent cases of expulsion of Israeli tourists and was not familiar with the cases cited by Izvestia. The spokesman said “it is entirely unbased allegation.” He referred to the Izvestia charge that the Israel Embassy issued propaganda material to Israeli tourists for distribution among Jews in Russia.
Second Secretary Efraim Paz was charged by Izvestia with handing out such propaganda to tourist Dahan Maatsia. Mr. Paz refused to comment on such reports. He would not say whether he knew Maatsia.
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