Israeli diplomat expelled from Australia
Israeli consul told to leave Australia because of alleged ties to two Israelis suspected of being Mossad agents
According to the Herald, the incident had been covered up for several weeks.
The Herald also reports the incident may be linked to the arrest of two Israelis in New Zealand last year caught while trying to obtain fake passports and who allegedly agents of the Mossad.
New Zealand had demanded an apology from Israel. Israel has denied any involvement in the passport affair.
One of the official duties of the consul was to visit the two Israelis in prison and to provide them with diplomatic services.
The pair had also spent time in Australia, where there was speculation they might have been on a similar mission.
The Herald reports the Australian government told Israel to withdraw its diplomat voluntarily, otherwise steps would be taken to declare him persona non grata, initiating proceedings for his deportation.
In response, the Israeli Foreign Ministry told the diplomat to return home immediately, before the affair would turn into a full-blown diplomatic crisis.
Opposition left in the dark
The Australian opposition was angry at not being informed about the decision to expel a foreign diplomat, says the Herald.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said the government had only contacted the opposition once it realized the media was onto the matter.
The Herald said it had spoken to a source close to the Israeli cabinet who had said the reason for the incident must be serious, given the friendly relations between the two countries.
Israeli President Moshe Katsav is scheduled to visit Australia early next month.
