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From:
b7C
~:~t:IFrida v ,'annaN 20 2006 2·57 pM
Subject: JPost
Mjtiia'2% Wi ONLINE EDITION
JERUSALEM POST
Israel: Franklin's trial won't aUeet us
Nathan Guttman, THE JERUSALEM POST Oct. 8,2005
Israel alleged that it would not-be affected by Lawrence Franklin's plea bargain or by the fact that the names ofIsraeli
diplomats were mentioned in court. Israeli diplomatic sources said Thursday that Naor Gilon, the form~r political
officer at the Israeli embassy in Washington, who was in contact with convicted Pentagon analyst Franklin, had no idea
that the information he got from Franklin was classified.
"We are not r~sponsible for what is said to us by Atperican officials", said the diplomatic source, "even ifan American
official did something he was not authorized to do, we had no way ofknowing that."
Mark Regev, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, saidin response to the incident that "the Israel embassy staffin
Washington conduct themselves in a completely professional manner in accordance with all international conventions,
and no one serious has made any allegations to the contrary."
Naor Giton met between eight and twelve times with Larry Franklin and discussed with him issues regarding Iran's ~
nuclear program and the internal political situation in Iran. Israeli sources described these meetings asroutine and ~
common practice for any diplomat.
Franklin himself, in a court hearing Wednesday in which he pleaded guilty to three counts ofcommunicatitlg classified
information and holding documents at his home, said he "knew in his heart" that the Israelis already possessed all the
information he was giving Gilon. Franklin added that he received more information from the Israeli diplomat than he
had given him.
In a short formal reaction to the Franklin plea bargain, David Siegel, spokesman for the Israeli embassy, said, "we have
full confidence in our diplomats who are dedicated professionals who conduct themselves in full accordance with
established diplomatic practices".
Israel and the US have not reached yet an understanding concerning the method in which Gilon and two other Israeli
diplomats from the embassy will be interviewed by investigators probing the case.. Israeli suggested th~t the US relay
its questions to the Israelis and -will get in return written answers, but there was yet to be an American response to th~· slg
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