Mazuz decides against probe into leak
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz denies Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom's request to launch inquiry into leak of comments made by U.S. Ambassador Dan Kurtzer, which stirred row in Israel
JERUSALEM - Attorney General Menachem Mazuz has decided Sunday to refrain from launching a criminal investigation into leaked comments by U.S. Ambassador Dan Kurtzer, despite Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom’s request.
“There is no room to launch a criminal investigation into the case’s circumstances, and the issue will be dealt with within the framework of the Civil Service,” he said.
Earlier Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom ordered an inquiry in a bid to identify the person behind leaked comments reportedly made by U.S. Ambassador Dan Kurtzer in a talk with Foreign Minister cadets.
Shalom spoke about the matter with Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and Civil Service Commissioner Shmuel Hollander, and has also instructed the Foreign Ministry to assist the investigation.
The protocol of Kurtzer’s remarks was distributed among 22 Foreign Ministry officials, Shalom said, and added that he denies any connection to the leak.
“I will never do anything that would undermine ties between Israel and the United States,” he said. “I regret the publication of Kurtzer’s comments to Foreign Ministry cadets. The remarks were made during a closed session and were not supposed to be made public.”
Moreover, the media reports do not match the protocol, Shalom said, and pointed to a recent series of damaging leaks that could undermine Israeli interests.
Kurtzer predicted government to fall
Despite later denials by Kurtzer, who said he was misquoted, newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth says its report was based on the meeting’s official protocol.
According to the report, the American envoy predicted that the current government would be toppled before the end of its term, a prospect he said would likely lead to the renewal of terror attacks.
Kurtzer also reportedly denied understandings have been reached between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the U.S. Administration regarding Jewish West Bank settlement blocs.
