Israeli killed in New Zealand earthquake was Mossad agent

[Scurrilous]

Local media reports Ofer Mizrahi, killed in the Christchurch earthquake in February, was part of a team trying to infiltrate sensitive computer systems.

<snip>

"New Zealand security officials suspect Israeli Mossad agents were trying to obtain sensitive information from the state's databases, reported the local Southland Times newspaper on Tuesday. Authorities suspect that one of the agents was Ofer Mizrahi, one of three Israelis killed in the earthquake in the city of Christchurch last February.

Authorities have launched an investigation into what a senior security official called "suspicious activities of several groups of Israelis during and immediately after the earthquake."

There was extensive local media coverage of the search teams that were sent from Israel after the earthquake. The two private search parties were sent without prior coordination with officials in Jerusalem, and were met with difficulties after the local authorities prevented them from searching in the area.

The report claims Israel's reaction to the casualties and missing Israeli citizens was unprecedented. For example, Prime Minister John Key, who is Jewish, spoke with his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu four times the day of the earthquake. The report also claims that Israeli ambassador Shemi Tzur , who is posted in the capital Wellington, immediately ordered plane tickets to Christchurch. Furthermore, Home Front Defense Minister Matan Vilnai also left immediately for the disaster-struck city."

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[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[shaayecanaan]

2. quite bizarre

i first thought that this was a story from scoop.co.nz as sometimes the stories there are a bit lurid from time to time, but no its from good old haaretz.

[Violet_Crumble]

3. Yeah, it's a bit strange, and the NZ PM is denying it...

New Zealand's prime minister has denied that a group of Israelis caught up in the devastating Christchurch earthquake in February had links to the Israeli secret service Mossad.

John Key said security agents had investigated Ofer Mizrahi, one of three Israelis who died in the quake.

The probe was triggered by the rapid departure of three other Israelis who had survived the quake, he said.

There was no evidence that the group had Mossad links, he added.

He confirmed however that Mizrahi was found to have two passports - one European and one Israeli.

"Security agencies conducted the investigation and found no evidence that the people were anything other than backpackers," Mr Key said in a statement on Wednesday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14214044

[bemildred]

4. Yeah, Mike Whitney-esque, one wonders if it was a slow news day.

People leaving a severe earthquake zone, dual passports, prime ministers conversing back and forth about dead citizens. Pretty thin gruel. I suppose it might have something to do with previous disagreements that New Zealand and Israel have had about passports and intelligence activities, maybe someone is still a bit "spooked" (pun intended).

[King_David]

5. Ha Ha nt

[Violet_Crumble]

6. NZ reaction to Israel 'scandal' exposes official wariness

The close scrutiny of the young tourists shows the SIS harbours deep suspicions when it comes to Israeli activity.
by Fran O'Sullivan

<snip>

New Zealand's own well-publicised skirmish with Israel is completely anodyne by comparison.

Israel had to tender a formal apology after two of its "agents" were jailed here in 2004. The pair were caught red-handed trying to steal New Zealand passports.

They were ultimately whisked out of New Zealand before their sentences were fully served. But it is now obvious that our own spooks still harbour deep suspicions when it comes to Israeli activity in foreign countries, including our own.

<snip>

What this whole affair suggests is that the New Zealand Government is keeping very close tabs indeed on Israeli activities here - official and otherwise.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10740295