According to classified briefings on legislation that would lower visa restrictions on Israeli citizens, Jerusalem’s efforts to steal U.S. secrets under the cover of trade missions and joint defense technology contracts have “crossed red lines.” Israel’s espionage activities in America are unrivaled and unseemly, counterspies have told members of the House Judiciary and Foreign Affairs committees, going far beyond activities by other close allies, such as Germany, France, the U.K. and Japan. A congressional staffer familiar with a briefing last January called the testimony “very sobering … alarming … even terrifying.” Another staffer called it “damaging.”
The Israelis have responded forcefully to this – by denying that they spy at all and – surprise! – by accusing the writer, Jeff Stein, of being an anti-Semite. Stein responded today with more reporting, including this gem from a source at a congressional briefing on Israeli spying in 2013:
“I was in this briefing — there were several,” … a former congressional aide told Newsweek. “The one I was in had senior staffers from foreign affairs, the full committee, the subcommittee … from judiciary, Republicans and Democrats, senior leadership staff. I don’t think there was anyone in there who didn’t work for a member that wasn’t ardently and publicly pro-Israel,” he said. “And afterwards, we were saying, ‘No way. You’ve got to be fucking kidding.’” The evidence of Israeli spying was overwhelming, he said. Visa waivers was off the table. “The voices in the room,” the aide recalled, were, “‘There’s just no way that this is possible.’”
Oh yes there is.
The Dish 