Mystery surrounds the theft of computer disks from a Jewish-owned travel agency here.
According to speculation in the news media, the safety of Israeli diplomatic personnel who are clients of the agency may be jeopardized.
The break-in occurred two weeks ago at “Isbel,” a travel agency that specializes in trips to Israel and Zaire. It is located in a shopping mall in the center of the city.
According to press accounts, the thieves broke the door and seized two computers and their classified disks. The disks were said to contain details of trips made during the last few months by Israeli diplomats accredited to Belgium.
The disks might also contain the identity of intelligence agents issued diplomatic passports as part of their cover.
Israel’s ambassador to Belgium, Avi Primor, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency he should have been informed of the break-in right after it occurred but he did not think the robbery endangered the embassy staff.
Newspapers wondered, however, why the thieves stole the disks, which have no monetary value.
Several days after the theft someone spray-painted the newly installed door of the travel agency with the words “Islamic Breakers” in English.
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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.
