Government expels Israeli diplomat

FOREIGN Minister Stephen Smith announced on Monday his Government had evidence that the Israeli Government forged Australian passports.

A three month investigation by Australian intelligence organisations revealed “beyond doubt”, according to Smith, the link between the passport fraud and Israel. In response, the Foreign Minister expelled a member of the Israeli Embassy in Canberra effective this week, a decision he said that was taken “with sorrow”.

An initial investigation launched in February and led by the Australian Federal Police, was backed up this month with a visit to Israel by the director general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

Smith said there were three findings from the investigation. First that there was no evidence the four Australians – Joshua Krycer, Joshua Bruce, Nicole McCabe and Adam Korman – were anything other than innocent victims.¬† Second, the forged passports were of such a high quality that they pointed to the involvement of a national intelligence agency. Third, that the Australian investigation “left the Government in no doubt that Israel was responsible for the abuse and counterfeiting of these passports”.

He reiterated that Israel remained a friend of Australia but said “time will tell” how long it will take until the relationship between the two countries gets back on track.

A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy told The AJN: “A diplomat from the Embassy of Israel was summoned to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade this morning. At a meeting with the Secretary, he received notification of the decision of the Australian government. The Embassy of Israel expresses its regret at the Australian Government’s decision, which we feel is not reflective of the extensive relationship between our two nations.”

It’s understood that the member of the Embassy who is being expelled will leave ¬†Australia by the end of the week. It is not known whether the person in question had any involvement in the passport affair.

For full coverage see The Australian Jewish News print edition, available on Thursday morning.

NAOMI LEVIN