Full Release - IRmep

Haaretz - ISrael News - Israel WO~ U.S. to clarify why official was beOtailed
Map of Israel
Useful Numbers
In-depth
About Haaretz
Tech Support
Paper in PDF format
Headline Newsbox
place in a responsible, credible, professional, and
completely transparent manner, as befits the nature of
relations between Israel and the.United States."
Still, the question remains as to why Gilon was being
watched. One possibility mentioned is that the FBI'
obtained information that administration documents
were being leaked to Israel and wanted to track route
ofthe leak.
Another possibility is that elements opposed to Israeli
[ AD] policy tried to set up Gilon and Israel on false
accusations. Gilon, who was on vacation for a family
event in Israel, has returned to Washington and is
back at work.
Israeli sources said the embassy staff, Gilon included,
will continue meeting as usual with administration and
congressional representatives and with Jewish
community leaders.
The FBI has applied to neither Israel norits U.S.­
based representatives for any information on the affair
and it has not come up in meetings with U.S. officials.
Page 2 of2
., :.;
».
y
n
Meanwhile, the America Israel Public Affairs
Committee is also presenting a business as usual
face. The powerful Jewish lobby noted with pride that
all its events scheduled for the current Republican
National Convention in New York are attracting
capacity crowds.
Shalom: Mole story has been exaggerated out of
proportion
A Foreign Ministry investigation of the Larry Franklin
affair indicates that Israel's embassy in Washington
acted completely according to procedure.
lilt never violated the rules of diplomacy and good
dialogue that we maintain with the United States.,"
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said yesterday.
Referring to Naor Gilon, the embassy's political
attache, Shalom said: "He meets senior administration
officials in the course of his work, and there's nothing
unusual about that. The fact [the FBI] is following him
shows this matter has been blown completely out of
proportion." (Aluf Benn)
[AD]
Home INews IBusiness IEditorial & Op-Ed IFeatures ISports IBooks ICartoon ISite rules I
C Copyright 2004 Haaretz. All rights reserved
http://www.haaretz.comlhasen/spages/4713 70~html
8/30/2004