Ha’aretz reports that New Zealand will be getting that apology from Israel.
Israel is to apologize for sending undercover operatives to New Zealand and compromising its sovereignty, and will promise that such incidents will not recur, political sources in Jerusalem have confirmed.Over the past few weeks negotiations have been held between the two countries to resolve the crisis, which broke out following the arrest of two Mossad agents in New Zealand a year ago.New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff confirmed negotiations are underway to reach an agreement. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said he is aware of the reports in New Zealand’s media, and that Israel is interested in restoring the good relations that always existed between the two countries.—-When the affair was exposed, New Zealand reduced to a minimum its diplomatic ties with Israel, and refused to host Israel’s President Moshe Katsav who will visit Australia next month. As a condition for restoring relations, New Zealand demanded an official apology and a promise that such incidents will not reoccur.
Yes, New Zealand does deserve an apology. Countries have territorial sovereignty, and New Zealand’s was breached. But let’s be adult about this. Every spy organization in the world works in foreign countries. Including New Zealand’s Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), which has used “electronics to spy on countries throughout the Pacific, including friends and trading partners.”
If New Zealand had the correct perspective, they would realize that the Mossad are not working against their interests, but against the very same terrorists who would have no compunctions about “compromising [New Zeland’s] sovereignty” in a devastating way. So keeping this affair out of the public eye could have still resulted in their apology, but also perhaps, increased cooperation between the Mossad and GCSB. But who knows. Perhaps this was the end result.
So well done New Zealand. You will get your apology. Now about this…
