Report: Ex-AIPAC officials briefed Israel Embassy official

[norml]

Last update - 01:35 19/05/2005


Report: Ex-AIPAC officials briefed Israel Embassy official

By Nathan Guttman, Haaretz Correspondent

WASHINGTON - The United States appears to be investigating conversations that two former American Israel Public Affairs Committee staff members allegedly had with an Israel Embassy official and a Washington Post reporter regarding security information they received from a Pentagon analyst, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported Wednesday.

The analyst, Larry Franklin, was arrested earlier this month on charges of leaking classified information.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations is believed to have co-opted Franklin in 2003, according to the JTA. A year later, he met in Virginia with Keith Weissman, a former senior Iran analyst for the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, and - in what is believed to have been a sting operation - allegedly told him that the Iranians would try to kidnap and murder Israelis and Americans in the Kurdish region of Iraq, the agency quoted multiple sources as saying.

Weissman then allegedly told Steve Rosen, AIPAC's former policy director, about the conversation, and the two informed the White House, as well as Naor Gilon, who represents the Israel Embassy in Washington, and Washington Post reporter Glenn Kessler, the agency reported.




snip



http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/577753.html

[stepnw1f]

1. White House Knew (nt)