Israel Updated Australian Intelligence Services Over Ben Zygier Arrest in 2010
Contrary to his earlier claims, Foreign Minister Bob Carr admits his ministry, as well as a government agency thought to be the national security service, were briefed by Israel when Zygier was taken into custody.
Australian intelligence services were updated by the Israeli government on the arrest of Ben Zygier, a.k.a. Prisoner X, in 2010, Australian media reported on Wednesday.
ABC network, which first reported on the affair, quoted Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr's spokesman, who said that in the past couple days Carr has received new information indicating that officials at the Foreign Ministry and another Australian government agency knew about Zygier's arrest.
"DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) has now advised that some officers of the department were made aware of Mr Allen's (Zygier's) detention at the time in 2010 by another Australian agency," the spokeswoman said in a statement. "Minister Carr has asked department secretary, Mr. Peter Varghese, to review the handling of this consular case."
- Australian authorities were investigating Ben Zygier for espionage months before his arrest in Israel
- Israel's attorney general vowed to safeguard Prisoner X, claims Israeli MK
- Australian TV report: Security prisoner who killed self in 2010 was Ben Zygier, a Mossad agent
- Australian-born Mossad prisoner lived as 'lone soldier' on kibbutz
- In Australia, Jewish community reacts with shock and grief
The Australian news website News.com.au reported that the Australian government agency that received the initial information concerning Zygier's arrest, which it passed on to the Foreign Ministry was the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, ASIO.
