Fox News is good for something!
BRIT HUME, HOST: It has been more than 16 years since a
civilian working for the Navy was charged with passing
secrets to Israel. Jonathan Pollard pled guilty to conspiracy
to commit espionage and is serving a life sentence. At first,
Israeli leaders claimed Pollard was part of a rogue operation,
but later took responsibility for his work.
Now Fox News has learned some U.S. investigators believe
that there are Israelis again very much engaged in spying in
and on the U.S., who may have known things they didn't tell
us before September 11. Fox News correspondent Carl
Cameron has details in the first of a four-part series.
These items have since been removed from the FOX News web site:
Published: 12/12/01 FOX News. Part 1 of a 4 part series:
Carl Cameron Investigates Part 1 - Israel Is Spying In And On The U.S.?
Author: Carl Cameron
Part I:
BRIT HUME, HOST: It has been more than 16 years
since a civilian working for the Navy was charged with
passing secrets to Israel. Jonathan Pollard pled guilty
to conspiracy to commit espionage and is serving a
life sentence. At first, Israeli leaders claimed Pollard
was part of a rogue operation, but later took
responsibility for his work.
Now Fox News has learned some U.S. investigators believe
that there are Israelis again very much engaged in spying
in and on the U.S., who may have known things they didn't
tell us before September 11. Fox News correspondent
Carl Cameron has details in the first of a four-part series.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARL CAMERON, FOX NEWS CORRESPONDENT:
Since September 11, more than 60 Israelis have been
arrested or detained, either under the new patriot
anti-terrorism law, or for immigration violations. A
handful of active Israeli military were among those
detained, according to investigators, who say some
of the detainees also failed polygraph questions
when asked about alleged surveillance activities
against and in the United States.
There is no indication that the Israelis were involved in
the 9-11 attacks, but investigators suspect that they
Israelis may have gathered intelligence about the attacks
in advance, and not shared it. A highly placed investigator
said there are "tie-ins." But when asked for details, he
flatly refused to describe them, saying, "evidence linking
these Israelis to 9-11 is classified. I cannot tell you about
evidence that has been gathered. It's classified information."
Fox News has learned that one group of Israelis, spotted in
North Carolina recently, is suspected of keeping an
apartment in California to spy on a group of Arabs who
the United States is also investigating for links to terrorism.
Numerous classified documents obtained by Fox News
indicate that even prior to September 11, as many as 140
other Israelis had been detained or arrested in a secretive
and sprawling investigation into suspected espionage by
Israelis in the United States.
Investigators from numerous government agencies are part
of a working group that's been compiling evidence since the
mid '90s. These documents detail hundreds of incidents in
cities and towns across the country that investigators say,
"may well be an organized intelligence gathering activity."
The first part of the investigation focuses on Israelis who say
they are art students from the University of Jerusalem and
Bazala Academy. They repeatedly made contact with U.S.
government personnel, the report says, by saying they
wanted to sell cheap art or handiwork.
Documents say they, "targeted and penetrated military bases."
The DEA, FBI and dozens of government facilities, and even
secret offices and unlisted private homes of law enforcement
and intelligence personnel. The majority of those questioned,
"stated they served in military intelligence, electronic
surveillance intercept and or explosive ordinance units."
Another part of the investigation has resulted in the detention
and arrests of dozens of Israelis at American mall kiosks, where
they've been selling toys called Puzzle Car and Zoom Copter.
Investigators suspect a front.
Shortly after The New York Times and Washington Post reported
the Israeli detentions last months, the carts began vanishing.
Zoom Copter's Web page says, "We are aware of the situation
caused by thousands of mall carts being closed at the last minute.
This in no way reflects the quality of the toy or its salability.
The problem lies in the operators' business policies."
Why would Israelis spy in and on the U.S.? A general accounting
office investigation referred to Israel as country A and said, "
According to a U.S. intelligence agency, the government of
country A conducts the most aggressive espionage operations
against the U.S. of any U.S. ally."
A defense intelligence report said Israel has a voracious appetite
for information and said, "the Israelis are motivated by strong
survival instincts which dictate every possible facet of their
political and economical policies. It aggressively collects military
and industrial technology and the U.S. is a high priority target."
The document concludes: "Israel possesses the resources and
technical capability to achieve its collection objectives."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
A spokesman for the Israeli embassy here in Washington issued
a denial saying that any suggestion that Israelis are spying in or
on the U.S. is "simply not true." There are other things to consider.
And in the days ahead, we'll take a look at the U.S. phone system
and law enforcement's methods for wiretaps. And an investigation
that both have been compromised by our friends overseas.
HUME: Carl, what about this question of advanced knowledge
of what was going to happen on 9-11? How clear are investigators
that some Israeli agents may have known something?
CAMERON: It's very explosive information, obviously, and there's
a great deal of evidence that they say they have collected — none
of it necessarily conclusive. It's more when they put it all together.
A bigger question, they say, is how could they not have know?
Almost a direct quote.
HUME: Going into the fact that they were spying
on some Arabs, right?
CAMERON: Correct.
HUME: All right, Carl, thanks very much.
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