Australian report: Israel warned in past about fake passports
Ex-foreign minister: Israel was warned in past against forging passports for intelligence missions
Australia had warned Israel in the past not to use forged Australian passports for intelligence missions, The Australian reported Thursday.
Former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer confirmed that the Australian government warned Israel, at least once, against using such fake passports.
"I'm not 100 per cent sure that I didn't myself raise it with the Israelis," Downer was quoted as saying. "We have raised the issue of Israeli intelligence officers using foreign passports and that they should not consider using Australian passports."
A diplomatic source told the newspaper that Australian authorities approached the Israeli government during the 1990s to seek guarantees that Jerusalem will not be misusing Australian passports.
The inquiry was made in light of fears that Israeli intelligence officials were showing interest in using the passports of New Zealand.
According to the report, Australian representatives met with Israeli officials, which responded with "enraged self-righteousness."
Meanwhile, the passport affair has stirred a row in Australia. Opposition leader Tony Abbott has already said that the Australia government must ensure that its passport system is safer. Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd spoke out about the affair, saying that “We will not be silent on this matter”
