U.S. arrests ex-NASA scientist over bid to spy for Israel

Spying ? The U.S.A. has been spying on Israel from day 1

This is done Israel has ignored such a fertile ground for so long. I wish FBI should see that the genius is inoscent (till trapped by the FBI itself) and should be left free.

We don't know why the FBI posed a Israeli agents. Although maybe people don't think of it as spying...or rationalize it...if you give info to a friendly Gov. While we all know that's silly, who knows what goes on in the mind of a spy.

Of course one can't be sure but it does not sound like this case actually involves the State of Israel in any way. It sounds more like a case of the scientist wanting money and believing he could get it by offering to sell his knowledge to a foreign power, and the FBI chose Israel as a logical straw man, since Israel was known to have actually spied on the US in the past.

Yet, about your: "...(Israelis) determined he`d likely have nothing of any value to them..." I wonder at times, seriously, what may some American info be, that Israelis don't know from their close cooperation with the CIA, and need a spy for? I am so naive that I can't figure out this...

'...Nozette─while working at sensitive government jobs, including as a physicist at the Energy Department's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory─was "tasked" by an aerospace company "wholly owned by the Israeli government" with providing them with unspecified technical data and was paid $225,000 for his work between November 1998 and January 2008. The complaint says that company representatives provided Nozette with "proposed questions or taskings" and that he provided answers in return... '

there is much that is bizzare about this case. why was this man suddenly targeted ten years after he left government employment? how much fresh information would he possess after ten years? why did he leave government employment? are the answers that he gave to pseudo agents part of real top secrets, or is it just ideas that he came up with since he left government. why would he act in such a blatantly stupid manner given that he is obviously a brilliant scientist?

and for that matter give one to jonathan pollard..after all obama is giving what amounts to presidential pardons to guantamano bay terrorists.

'The bait was dangled, and the fish bit.' This omits one question -- why was the bait dangled? The FBI doesn't just go around trying to entrap everyone who has a security clearance. I'll grant there's no clear evidence of much of anything -- but there was SOMETHING behind this. As I suggested, it may well be that Israel herself reported an overture from this guy -- but there's something behind all this.

who determined he'd likely have nothing of any value to them, and without access to anything more, they didn't consider him worth it... so he became a sacrificial lamb. they handed him over to the americans who contacted him posing as israelis, and the rest we know.

as part of his job description working for the IAI. He thought the job with the IAI was just a front for the intelligence gathering he was tasked to do by Mossad. Readers, this infiltration of the US government is dynamite, and a grave danger to the relationship. It is dishonest to say his arrest is anti-semitic, and disastrous to state it is the duty of a Jew to serve the interests of a foreign government. Should Jewish Americans be denied security clearances? I don't agree. But this is Pollard all over again.

"technical reasons?proof of intent?One plea bargain,strong case eh?" Franklin admitted 3 charges of conspiracy. So not exactly hopeless either was it. "He WAS allowed to return to his fathers birthplace,just like the Jews,both get an Israeli passport,he refused. " PSM PETER SM. This is the nub. You regard Arab East Jerusalem as part of the sovereign state of Israel as do some other mutts on here as well as the far right more generally, in Israel. The rest of the world DOESN'T. Hence when he refuses to adopt Israeli citizenship in order to reside at his own discretion in the land of his birth, his right to do so is recognised by the rest of the planet, bar the motley assortment I mentioned above. "Tax evasion IS a criminal offence which is what your "Ghandi" promoted." PSM P being for Pedant. How does a TAX protest score on the scale of 10 for suicide bomber and 1 for proponent of peaceful civil disobedience? Would you have it that he protested only by meditating. Be honest PETER SM for once. Would it just be easier for you personally if he did not dedicate his life to peaceful protest and protection of children and simply conform to your idea of a typical Palestinian. It is a rhetorical question by the way. I am quite sure of your answer. In future, before posting you should at least research a little on a subject you are ignorant about. That you patently do not, shows you to be a bit of an ideologue who cannot respond to new information if it clashes with age hardened prejudice, which you seem to have in spades. See here: 'June 1918, a remission of taxes was granted in the drought hit area of Gujarat after a no-tax campaign led by Gandhi' So, not only was 'my' Ghandi a 'criminal' so was the original. Not knowing just how old you are Peter, were you perhaps supporting the retention of British rule in India!? Good day *foolish* Peter.

In this case entrapment was meant as 'entrapment' the point being that a trap was laid to this fella beacause there was grounds for suspicion.The fact that he was talking to the FBI/Israeli agents , and he shouldn't have, confirmed the suspicions that he was ripe for being hit upon by them whether he was or was not previously engaged in nefarious activity. Either way it does not look good for Israel.

There are several projects being worked on at any time between Israel and the USA. Some are classified and some are not. I find it hard to put this story line in the "spy vs spy " category. But then again I am not the paranoid type.

Pollard witnessed superiors deliberately not passing on vital intelligence about Iran, Iraq to Israel as friendly agreements pact called for in Israel-U.S. relationship. Instead of concentrating on terror cells in the U.S. FBI head Mueller a German Catholic (by definition anti-Jew, Israel) in order to please his Indonesian muslim marxist boss and Mueller who refused to hire Arabic speaking Jews lest it offend Muslims displays ungratitude to top U.S. scientist and baits him via KGB tactics to put him in the slammer for life.

"technical reasons?proof of intent?One plea bargain,strong case eh?" Franklin admitted 3 charges of conspiracy. So not exactly hopeless either was it. "He WAS allowed to return to his fathers birthplace,just like the Jews,both get an Israeli passport,he refused. " PSM PETER SM. This is the nub. You regard Arab East Jerusalem as part of the sovereign state of Israel as do some other mutts on here as well as the far right more generally, in Israel. The rest of the world DOESN'T. Hence when he refuses to adopt Israeli citizenship in order to reside at his own discretion in the land of his birth, his right to do so is recognised by the rest of the planet, bar the motley assortment I mentioned above. "Tax evasion IS a criminal offence which is what your "Ghandi" promoted." PSM P being for Pedant. How does a TAX protest score on the scale of 10 for suicide bomber and 1 for proponent of peaceful civil disobedience? Would you have it that he protested only by meditating. Be honest PETER SM for once. Would it just be easier for you personally if he did not dedicate his life to peaceful protest and protection of children and simply conform to your idea of a typical Palestinian. It is a rhetorical question by the way. I am quite sure of your answer. In future, before posting you should at least research a little on a subject you are ignorant about. That you patently do not, shows you to be a bit of an ideologue who cannot respond to new information if it clashes with age hardened prejudice, which you seem to have in spades. See here: 'June 1918, a remission of taxes was granted in the drought hit area of Gujarat after a no-tax campaign led by Gandhi' So, not only was 'my' Ghandi a 'criminal' so was the original. Not knowing just how old you are Peter, were you perhaps supporting the retention of British rule in India!? Good day *foolish* Peter.

"technical reasons?proof of intent?One plea bargain,strong case eh?" Franklin admitted 3 charges of conspiracy. So not exactly hopeless either was it. "He WAS allowed to return to his fathers birthplace,just like the Jews,both get an Israeli passport,he refused. " PSM PETER SM. This is the nub. You regard Arab East Jerusalem as part of the sovereign state of Israel as do some other mutts on here as well as the far right, in Israel. The rest of the world DOESN'T. Hence when he refuses to adopt Israeli citizenship in order to reside at his own discretion in the land of his birth, his right to do so is recognised by the rest of the planet, bar the motley assortment I mentioned above. "Tax evasion IS a criminal offence which is what your "Ghandi" promoted." PSM P being for Pedant. How does a TAX protest score on the scale of 10 for suicide bomber and 1 for proponent of peaceful civil disobedience? Would you have it that he protested only by meditating. Be honest PETER SM for once. Would it just be easier for you personally if he did not dedicate his life to peaceful protest and protection of children ans simply conform to your idea of a typical Palestinian. It is a rhetorical question by the way. I am quite sure of your answer. In future, before posting you should at least research a little on a subject you are ignorant about. That you patently do not, shows you to be an ideologue who cannot respond to new information if it clashes with age hardened prejudice which you have in spades. See here: 'June 1918, a remission of taxes was granted in the drought hit area of Gujarat after a no-tax campaign led by Gandhi' So, not only was 'my' Ghandi a 'criminal' so was the original. Good day Pedantic SM.

all over the world . CIA and more. Israel has caught US spying on it several times, but does not make a big deal of it for obvious reasons.

ALL governments spy on other governments. In this instance Israel is NOT involved in any way. Not all of facts revealed. Still it does seem odd. What security secrets did he have..as seems he worked on civilian scientific matters. Remember France caught US spying on its tech industry about 15 years ago, and made a huge diplomatic noise and issue of it

everyone should be treated equally and in accordance with the law. furthermore, protections such as habeus corpus and the presumption of innocence should be the norm in all countries.

you are convicting the man even before his trial. entrapment is a serious matter. the entire story is bizarre. why was he no longer working for the u.s. government? why would such a brilliant scientist act in such a stupid manner? why was he targeted now, years after he stopped working on classified material? was he passing on his own ideas, or his memory of classified information?

technical reasons?proof of intent?One plea bargain,strong case eh? What about the other 2? Tax evasion IS a criminal offence which is what your "Ghandi" promoted. He WAS allowed to return to his fathers birthplace,just like the Jews,both get an Israeli passport,he refused.

Israel was not involved. The FBI just used the name to lend credibility to their sting. He'd done business with the Israelis before. The money offered was just a farm subsidy for the information to be harvested.

With friends like Israel the US does not need enemies.

Why would an FBI agent pose as an Israeli intelligence officer (since Israel is supposedly the best friend and ally of the United States), and not as a Pakistani, Iranian, North Corean or Venezuelan one....??? Have a look at the responses on some of the major blogs in the U.S. from today, and you will realize rather quickly, that the damage has already been done, with or without official Israeli involvement.... Again, why would the U.S. secret service wanna do that...???

Ah, our wonderful "American" media. Yahoo news has a headline today about a scientist arrested for spying -- but guess what's not in the headline? One word. Can you guess? Give that 2-year-old boy a lollipop -- that's right! The word Israel. As in "spying for Israel." You know, as in what the story is all about! (The lengths to which the American media goes (GOES, not GO) to save the Jewish state embarrassment. My favorite is their use of "targeted assassination." A lot of copy editors out there might think that's a bit of a redundancy, that an assassintation IS picking your target. But to their bosses? No. They're "targeted assassinations.") And the NY Times regarding the scientist alleged to have spied for Israel? Twelve hours after the Israeli press broke the story there's still nothing. But like I've always said, if you want to know what's going on in American today, read Israeli newspapers (even the J Post!). And if that don't say all about America today I don't know what does.

Despicable! Sounds like he was in it for the filtthy lucre.

Astounding that folks can't just accept that their is no evidence of Israeli involvement. That he had done consulting work for IAI would have drawn the attention of the FBI. The bait was dangled, and the fish bit.

No. The man was clearly willing to proffer treason. Moreover, he failed to report an approach by what he thought was a foreign intelligence service. I guess most of you folks do not understand the responsibilities of a security clearance. I know a husband and wife who cannot tell each other what they are working on. They know they can't even ask.

for a few thousand dollars...

You're welcome Yaakov. I never read about these villages you mentioned til just now. I read that even many Israeli Jews demonstrated for their [vilagers] right to return to their homes back in the 70's. So many injustices for such a small land.

Mark. It is only entrapment if the accused was coerced or tempted into doing something he would otherwise not have done. If this guy was already under suspicion and he took little persuading, then it is not entrapment. I'm speaking strictly of the legal interpretation. This case may or may not be similar to DeLorean [I rememebr his gullwing cars-factory set up in N.Ireland etc].

And....of course, being a person who is honest and dedicated to truth and justice, I will also say a number of cases the US filed against Muslims for Terror Plots were also ENTRAPMENT... ...somehow, though, I highly doubt you would ever agree...

Especially your information on Mubarak Awad, a real leader in non-violence and one the Israelis have tried for yrs to sideline. Thank you for your clarifications to Peter SM. There are many Palestinians in the same positions as Awad. Israel is afraid of setting a precedent and that precedent would threated their ethnocracy. Similar reasons why no Israeli government has followed through on their own commitments to allow the residents of Baram and Iqrit to return to even a part of the land on which their villages stood and which were razed by the Israelis to build their own villages.

"a case they would have pursued it" PSM Not correct. The FBI wanted to pursue it. They were prevented from doing so. One of the plaintiffs [Franklin] had already agreed with prosecutors to plead guilty to the three conspiracy counts before the case was dropped for technical reasons; onerous burden of proof, proof of intent etc. That and fears about natinal security issues, were the trial to proceed. Highly unlikely the FBI would not have done their homework more thoroughly this time. Palestinian Ghandi: "It was going on at the same time as the intifida not as you claimed" PSM Wrong Peter. "***PRIOR to the intifada***, Awad published papers and lectured on nonviolence as a technique for resisting the Israeli occupation. He wrote that nonviolence could be used as a means of resistance. The Centre ALSO sponsored a number of nonviolent actions during the early months on the first intifada. Among the tactics employed was the planting of olive trees on proposed settlements, asking people not to pay taxes and encouraging people to eat and drink Palestinian products. In the Middle East he is called the Arab Gandhi because he was teaching the power of nonviolence similar to Mahatma Gandhi in India during the British Raj." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mubarak_Awad#cite_note-2 Planting olive trees and not paying taxes one minute, a suicide bomber the next? The Palestinian 'Ghandi'. All you can do is obfuscate. It's as if anyone who tells the truth about a NON VIOLENT Palestinian opponent induces paranoid robotic defence mechanisms in certain people. Here is some more of your nonsense: "he refused Israeli citizenship". Yes, in 1967 along with most of Arab population of Jerusalem. He declined Israeli citizenship. He lived in East Jerusalem which Israel has still not officially annexed. He retained his Jordanian citizenship. If a Jew can legally return to Zion after 2000 years can not a native non Jew return to his own homeland and his fathers birthplace after a few years absence. Even a peaceful one? [tax evasion and olive trees not withstanding]

In the movie 'The Firm', the crusty, unpleasant in-house detective for the corrupt law firm tells the young lawyer (Tom Cruise) that he was being paid to be suspicious when there is nothing to be suspicious of. The same holds true here. It is doubtful that the Nasa scientist was targeted at random. Israel has a track record for acquiring vital information to its benefit throughout the world. It is not spying against the US but engaging in illegal espionage that can, and did compromise US security. Being suspected of or implicated in espionage, however tangentially, is not to its credit particularly now that its moral credibility is on the line. The begged question therefore is whether this FBI operation was also motivated by an attempt to further discredit Israel as part of exerting political pressure on her.

"a case they would have pursued it" PSM Not correct. The FBI wanted to pursue it. They were prevented from doing so. One of the plaintiffs [Franklin] had already agreed with prosecutors to plead guilty to the three conspiracy counts before the case was dropped for technical reasons; onerous burden of proof, proof of intent etc. That and fears about natinal security issues, were the trial to proceed. Highly unlikely the FBI would not have done their homework more thoroughly this time. Palestinian Ghandi: "It was going on at the same time as the intifida not as you claimed" PSM Wrong Peter. "***PRIOR to the intifada***, Awad published papers and lectured on nonviolence as a technique for resisting the Israeli occupation. He wrote that nonviolence could be used as a means of resistance. The Centre ALSO sponsored a number of nonviolent actions during the early months on the first intifada. Among the tactics employed was the planting of olive trees on proposed settlements, asking people not to pay taxes and encouraging people to eat and drink Palestinian products. In the Middle East he is called the Arab Gandhi because he was teaching the power of nonviolence similar to Mahatma Gandhi in India during the British Raj." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mubarak_Awad#cite_note-2 Planting olive trees and not paying taxes one minute, a suicide bomber the next? The Palestinian 'Ghandi'. All you can do is obfuscate. It's as if anyone who tells the truth about a NON VIOLENT Palestinian opponent induces paranoid robotic defence mechanisms in certain people. Here is some more of your nonsense: "he refused Israeli citizenship". Yes, in 1967 along with most of Arab population of Jerusalem. He declined Israeli citizenship. He lived in East Jerusalem which Israel has still not officially annexed. He retained his Jordanian citizenship. If a Jew can legally return to Zion after 2000 years can not a native non Jew return to his own homeland and his fathers birthplace after a few years absence. Even a peaceful one? [tax evasion and olive trees not withstanding]

This is obviously done to entrap this man. The FBI came to him . It seems they preyed on his need for cash. The question is why is the U.S. trying to make Israel look bad , and trying to foment distrust of Jewish people in the states?Why are they going public in the media with this, assuming they do this alot, and why now?

I lived in Chevy Chase for years. I am afraid that people there have more loyalty to Israel than anything else.

"He received a telephone call from an FBI agent posing as an Israeli agent"!?? Who knew what he had to sell and how did Nozetter communicate to them that he had something to sell. Was he looking to sell specifically to an Israeli agent? How did the FBI get involved and why did they pose their agent as an Israeli rather than a Chinese or Iranian or Russian? How was Israel involved in this and if they were, how did the FBI find out about it. With Pollard and the AIPAC conspirators this would not be surprising.Something is not clear here and there is certainly more to the story than is being reported in this article.

According to reports, the traitor Nozette had been implicated in another case in which he stated to a colleague that if the US tried to arrest him he would flee to Israel. I appears that because of his security clearances and his statements about fleeing to Israel it prompted the FBI to set up a sting to see if Nozette was willing to sell out his country, and apparently the traitor Nozette did just that. The traitor faces life in prison for his crime and I hope the traitor Nozette gets the maximum penalty allowed if found guilty.

In the 1970's the Feds found out Mr. Delorian former President of GM who went off on his own to form his own company and car, he got into in financial trouble. They(the Feds) lured him into a cocaine deal where his could make approximately $20 mil. He went for the deal and they busted him. He won his case because it was entrapment. You see he was not looking for a coke deal with anyone. They approached him, taking advantage of his financial troubles. It doesn't say much for their character though. In the end this has nothing to do with Israel.

It would seem that sources in the US decided to expose their sting now. How many others are they stinging at the moment, ready to expose when the right time comes. The affair puts Netanyahu further on the defensive with the US administration and who know what other pressure tactics the Americans have up their sleeve? Once again Netanyahu is caught between polls, unable to commit one way or the other. Get wise Netanyahu, Israel is a small fish, reaklize who your real friends are, you need them if you like it or not!!!

... espionage and counter-espionage... and all based on a devious trick perpetrated by none other that our 'best-friend'... it's the best-show-in-town... what's the sequel...?!

as someone who was born and raised in chevy chase, I can tell you first-hand that it is an area full of israeli spies and agents. It is also full of zionist-american neocons who want a war with iran, for israel of course.

Peter SM, before you critize our own FBI, please understand the facts. The FBI did exactly what it needs to to do to protect our country and its interestss. We are proud to say the least with our men and women in this fine national agency.

FBI initiates conversation with some out-of-work scientist, asks for information about US technology, claiming to be Israeli (but could be anybody, guy has no way of knowing!). Guy claims he has no access to the information, but "remembers" it, offers to answer questions, demands $11,000. FBI pays him, gets its "answers". There will be no trial, charges will be dropped - here's why: The guy will simply claim that he needed money, somebody he didn't know, who he took to be a technology thief, phoned him claiming to be "Israelis", and even though he told them he had no actual access, he decided to sell them some made-up, bogus, incorrect answers to their questions, and made off with their $11,000, laughing all the way to the bank. What's the crime then - fraud? Who presses this charge, since it was a sting, no real purchaser involved? That this became an FBI press release within a month of the guy 1st being approached says its more of an FBI publicity stunt, vs. doing their job. Yawn.

a case they would have pursued it.What's this "off the hook "? The FBI thought they would have another go,they did not need a phone book,just a Hebe. who was minding his own business till the FBI came along. The fact is this fellow was NOT spying for Israel but you thought you would throw in an innuendo headline anyway. PS Your "passive resister" only had a tourist visa because he refused Israeli citizenship and he was inciting people to evade their taxes.A crime,when a tourist commits a crime he gets deported or jailed usually both everywhere. It was going on at the same time as the intifida not as you claimed.

I guess there is some concern about previous cases where AIPAC guys were let off the hook, also whilst 'spying' for Israel. The FBI could be making a point. Yet the FBI don't pick names out of a telephone book. This guy was likely under suspicion and probably took little persuading[if any] to pass on information. 'IF' that is the case he will no doubt go to jail. There is NO entrapment where a person is ready and willing to break the law and the government agents merely provide what appears to be a favorable opportunity for the person to commit the crime. Expect a plea bargain and prison sentence to follow.

Sounds like a case of entrapment to me. The case wil be thrown out of court!!!

A bit young, unless he was fired. Then again, the FBI found a chicken. Why would Israel be interested in polar ice on the moon.? More than likely he was approached by the FBI acting as Iranian agents. One could only guess his answer. So, it was finally decided on Israel. There are many Israeli scientists that are or have worked for NASA. Entrapment and sting operations are common enough. The FBI must surely be concerned, that so many scientists are running around, blabbing away. I wonder, how many have inadvertently given away such info in the local watering hole. Here is the question of the day, when Israel places its first man on the moon, will they need to bring bottled water along.?

you might be right. this might be an attempt to discredit israel.

Nuclear technology? Israel DID have nuclear cooperation deal with France.?

If Israel" controlls the media" why did this appear? Well Mr Ezra?

this man was trapped in a classic entrapment operation. there is no accusation at all that israel was involved. entrapment is usually an illegal and inadmissible in court. if the man did nothing but fall into the trap, the authorities would need to provide corroborating evidence for the allegations against him. entrapment is a method that i find particularly disturbing. it can be used against innocent people.

Israel has, since it was founded, had agents and spies in the USA. Israel has a very large and very active spy network in the USA. Israel will continued to spy against the USA. I would never consider Israel to be a friend of the USA. Israel first and foremost always puts its own interests first. We all know what kinds of weapons Israel has that no one is allowed to talk about. Israel will use these weapons against anyone if the government thinks it is necessary. What else is new?

The bizarre thing is that while the FBI is running around after minor figures like this, it ignores the way AIPAC uses finacial incentives to get US politicians to do what Israel wants.

israel had nothing to do with this. why this individual was singled out for an fbi sting operation is not known and has not been revealed. neither the alleged spy's involvment nor the interest of the fbi in this individal are known at this point.

Is it just fear or bad conscience, because of the bad, bad things that happened in the past (Pollard + Co.)....??? Take it easy, we still don't know enough facts, in order to make a final judgement....

Think a bit if you were the one screening potential traitors. There are two most obvious threads to investigate. 1. People who would work for allies (considering it a lesser sin). 2. Ethnicity. E.g. Jew by "Israeli" agents, Chinese by "Chinese" agents.

At this point it looks like a PR move to create some agit-prop against Israel. Its really an old cold war trick. East Germany, for example, organized and funded extremist anti-communist and para-Nazi groups in West Germany in the 1950s to try via scandal to de-legitimize that government. It has emerged over the past few years that many of the events that lead to the death o Aldo Moro had the signature of the CIA and were applied to "instrumentalize the Red Brigades" and to de-legitimize the PCI (Italian Communist movement). In the late 1960s Whe CIA and FBI supported many French revolutionary groups (paid informants or provocateurs?). Its old hat. Burn down the Reichstag and claim... It does not matter if Israel is not involved. It does not even matter if the case has any merits to go before court or if even Nozette could sue the FBI for entrapment and libel. What matters is that the headline: "spy for Israel"

"No Israeli espionage or intelligence gathering in friendly states" - Then how did Israel get the bomb?

If this is true, it shows how smart Israel is, spying on the USA. Israel knows that Washington is not totally trustworthy. Hope Arab puppet regimes learn from this. A country that once supported Bin Laden & Taliban should never be trusted.

It seems the FBI still believes in entrapping people. Its wrong what the man did (if true) and its most likely that the man knew things that the US did not want to get out so they concocted this charge to keep the man from spreading the truth about the US dept of energy and what they TRULY do.

It voted for NAFTA, allowed usury, outsourced all our industries and jobs, lined their pockets with Oil Lobbyist, brokers, Insurers and Bankers money

most are true americans. some are more israeli than american.

Remember this?? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWpWc_suPWo

Don't be too sure. See the 'early information.' My guess is the FBI has additional evidence -- but they'd rather not reveal their source. So they'll probably accept a plea bargain. 'You take (a) and don't go to trial or we will use this at the trial to convict you of (b).' All pretty interesting. It's also possible that if there is Israeli culpability in some form, that Israel will get its arm twisted.

Until AIPAC gives permission for the truth to come out - most likely the truth being the FBI already knew this guy was looking to trade secrets to Israel for $$$

Try reading the article again Israel wasn't spying, the FBI agent "posed" as an Israeli Don't you feel better now that it's been explained to you??

israel is not accused of anything. the man, furthermore, is innocent until proven guilty. personally, i am very suspicious of attempts by any government to entrap people. actually, entrapmant is usually an illegal method.

israel had nothing to do with this. this was a sting operation for reasons that are not clear or revealed. we are all waiting to find out why this man was targeted.

Wait a minute is this the first time Israel has been tied with trying to get info in a round about way. Didn't they once get caught with Canadian passports they shouldn't of had as well once(that we know of)? It's just the world of business, sell to the highest bidder no matter if you misuse your allies. I think all countries steal from each other, the fact that the sting involved Mossad reference make some Jewish people and supporters a little defensive after everything that is going on lately.

Iran is quickly becoming both capable and willing to shoot down US satellites in case of war. Someone in the FBI thinks Iran is a country in Israel. (because Israel spans most of the lands in the Middle East, leaving no room for the Arabs and the Iranians, who in America are believed to be just another Arab nation, by another name, if you listen to the media chatter).

or anyone acting on its behalf violated U.S. law. Interesting fact, the FBI chose an "Israeli agent" bait to catch the would be traitor... how about the US Bush government's gag attempt, and despicable treatment of the former FBI translator turned whistle blower, Sibel Edmonds? Israel was mentioned in that fiasco.

What do you call "limited resources" by the FBI. A phone call and a meeting costs cents. The persiflage as a "Mossad" agent was done by the FBI. Why? Let me counter-assume two for you: 1. Why not by some sectors in the FBI who are not so friendly with Israel? 2. Why not because they have a reason to smear Israel?

I would be seriously angry with the US.

"Just like the AIPAC case, Israel had absolutely no connection to this affair whatsoever." The AIPAC affair was a whitewash. It clearly indicated AIPAC's power, not its innocence.

Chris, this was an FBI sting, Israel was not involved, and so far the FBI has not said that Israel ever contacted the man or explained why they used Israel as their hypothetical spymasters to sting this guy--maybe it is nothing more than being I-Day at the FBI or the FBI counterintelligence just has a thing for Israel as claimed.

According to what this article says this is a clear case of entrapment and wont hold up in any court of law.

It could be anything really. After all American Intelligence agencies are known for their reliability. They overlooked 9/11 but found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. They also search for Ben Laden for last 8 years.

The article makes it clear that the man was entrapped by the Fumbling Bungling Incompetents (FBI). Thus I cannot accuse Israel of spying on Israel because there is NO EVIDENCE that happened. Were I to so accuse Israel it would have been published. I cannot accuse the man who would betray his oath of being a hero. Anyone who has sworn to protect the secrets of any nation has no right to betray them. All I have done was ask a very simple question. As the FBI has limited assets, it cannot spend time dialing telephone numbers at random with the hope that number will lead to a traitor. So, and this is the question which seems necessary to censor, why did the FBI pick him? Further censorship will prove two things. 1. Israel is recruiting American traitors. 2. The FBI has compromised the operation. Israel may prove, or question these assumptions.

Why is an Israeli need to spy on the US, I hoped they were tight allies, STRANGE!!!!

NOTHING is bad for Israel, don't you get it? Not Pollard, not Cast Lead, not Goldstone, not the SS Liberty, not Chabra and Shatilla, not Qana, not Sam Sheinbein, not Weisman, not Rosen, not Netanyahu, not Lieberman... NOTHING is bad for Israel because it doesn't matter. POWER trumps all.

'The FBI agent who contacted Nozette pretended to be an Israeli officer due to early information indicating Nozette was interested in selling secrets to Israel. ' 'Early information...' I'll grant it's almost pure speculation, but this suggests Nozette made overtures to the Israelis. Two possibilities then come to mind. Either (a), the Israelis, trying to regain America's trust, told the FBI about Nozette's overture, or (b) the FBI noticed Nozette's overture independently. It'd be comic if Israel discovered the FBI had an agent inside their American intelligence network and got upset. 'You can't spy on us spying on you!'

The article says Israel had no involvement. This was an agent pretendeing to be an Israeli.

Given today's economic situation, I'D spy for Israel.

He was being pursued by the FBI on an unrelated matter, and he told a colleague that he would abscond to Israel and "tell them everything". So the FBI laid a trap for him after he basically threatened espionage. He was consulting for an Israeli defense contractor owned by the government, and was collecting regular payments of $200k (how often is not said). $200K is a lot for a scientist doing regular work. http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/19/u.s.espionage.charge.israel/index.html

with Israel.

It's like leaving a Ferari with the engine on and the keys inside, and waiting for someone to hop in before arresting him. This is an illegal act by international law: providing ways for people to become bad people so that you can arrest them after.

to make relationship with Israel deteriorate more?

He should have never said yes to an approach. You make the approach, always. You have to create the network, dont wait for any outside expectations. They will always turn into bitter resentments. Pathways to discontent. Be in the now and provide information to your resource. Never rely or trust on other peoples resources. Make your own. He should have known there are agencies out to entrap him. And act accordingly. I dont know what of a great loss this genius is to the intellectual design for the zionist cause. But Id like to get him home.

Could it be that Israel said Jonathan Pollard did not spy for them for 13 years intill they confessed to the fact. Could it be that just 18 months ago they picked up a jewish american who was spying for Israel and used the same Israeli agent that Pollard used. After Israel admitted Jonathan Pollard worked for them they assured the United States there was no more spies working for that very same agent that worked for Pollard. Could it be that the FBI in america has stated that Israel has the largest spying organization outside of communist China. Sorry I have to say it but Israel loves to bite the hand that feeds it.

Why doesn't it appear that undercover FBI agents are trying to prove whether some scientist will sell info -let's say- to the Ukrainian, Saudi or South Corean intelligence agencies? It is very fishy indeed.

When you take responsibilty to handle classified US government information, all rules are fair game...

Good luck getting Pollard out now. The relationship with israel with deteriorate even more

I asked myself the same questions.

Take a greedy scientist, call him in the name of a foreign intelligence agency, and offer him money. He accepts to pass info. That foreign intelligence agency doesn't even know about this scientist, and has nothing to do with him. What does that prove? That the scientist is not a particularly reliable individual. That deserves a headline at Haaretz?

"This was a STING by the FBI, and had nothing to do with Israel at all." Not so fast! The guy was the target of an admitted STING operation, but why? I doubt that he was picked at random. One has to believe that the FBI is alert to Israeli espionage efforts, and was taking this steps in this instance to deal with them.

Try reading the entire article, especially the paragraph that reads "The complaint, unsealed Monday, does not allege that the government of Israel or anyone acting on its behalf violated U.S. law." let's spell out the meaning for you: this was an FBI sting, with an FBI agent posing as an "Israeli" agent as a means of nabbing a potential spy. Israel played no part in this. Sheesh! Talk about a rush to judgment.

care to explain what they have done.?

Did you even read the article. Think before you talk, this had nothing to do with Israel. You would place blame on Israel when there is nothing to blame them for. Ignorance! I suggest reading the article before responding.

If Israel had not been caught practicing espionage against the U.S., fair minded people wouldn't suspect Israel. However, Israel has practiced spying against the U.S. on multiple occasions in the past.

The story as it reads now does not prove that the government of Israel is involved in this affair. The future will tell after a thorough investigation is conducted. The FBI is to be commended on its diligence to find traitors to this country regardless of their political affiliations.

I think you need to re-read the article , It mentions that he was approached by undercover FBI not the Mossad. It sounds like Israel had nothing to do with it. So sorry to rain on your parade.

If you have a security clearance then the FBI has every right to test you. If you have knowledge of classified information, of course they will monitor/test you. The knowledge these people have is what makes America the super power she is today.

Read the statement by the Justice Dept.! This was a STING by the FBI, and had nothing to do with Israel at all. Just like the AIPAC case, Israel had absolutely no connection to this affair whatsoever. The questions one must ask oneself are: Why does the U.S. keep using Israel as bait? Is it insecurity? Do the Americans believe that their people would rather be Israel's people? Or is there another more sinister attempt to discredit Israel at play here?

Even if the guy was ready to sell out for money, why is the FBI going up to people pretending to be Mossad and seeing if they'll bite? Did they have actual reason to think Mossad was looking for such people and they were trying to beat Mossad to the punch? Is Nozette Jewish and the FBI is doing loyalty tests? Do they do try to tempt non-Jewish scientists with offers to spy for other intelligence services? It's creepy.

Netanyahus statment earlier in the day that he had reached agreement with Obama over settlements?