U.S. Spy Probe Officials Seem Satisfied with Israel’s Cooperation

A team of American officials sent to Israel two weeks ago to investigate the Jonathan Pollard spy case has returned home, apparently satisfied with Israel’s cooperation and measures to ensure that the episode would not be repeated.

Reports from Jerusalem over the weekend said the Israeli authorities are dismantling a little-known intelligence gathering unit of the Defense Ministry allegedly involved with Pollard and that Rafael Eitan, the man who reportedly recruited and handled Pollard, has been removed as its head.

State Department deputy spokesman Charles Redman read a statement Friday saying the U.S. investigators had received “full cooperation” from the Israelis and that all U.S. documents obtained by Israel “in an unauthorized manner” have been returned. “The government of Israel has acted to prevent any repetition of such activities,” the statement said. It noted that Israel told the investigators that the Pollard operation had been undertaken “without authority” from the Jerusalem government.

Redman’s statement was released in the name of the investigating team which included State and Justice Department officials and was headed by Abraham Sofaer, legal advisor to the State Department. Asked why there was no joint statement, as had been expected, Redman said: “There are many aspects of this statement which involve agreement with the Israeli government, so that this is, in that sense, a joint statement.”

The unit reportedly dismantled is the Liaison Bureau for Scientific Affairs, known by its Hebrew acronym, “Lekem.” Eitan, the former chief of Mossad, Israel’s secret service, who headed it, has been detached but remains on the government payroll, according to reports from Jerusalem.