Diplomatic row: New Zealand vs Israel

A court in Auckland has sentenced two Israelis, Eli Cara and Urie Kelman (alledged to be members of Israeli intelligence, Mossad agents) for fraudulently acquiring New Zealand passports. They were sentenced to a jail term of six months and NZD 50,000 each as reparation to the NZ Cerebral Palsy Society. The man whose identity they used has cerebral palsy.

The two men were arrested by New Zealand police last March 2004. New Zealand since then has demanded an apology from Israel.

Now, as a consequence of the conviction the government has suspended diplomatic ties with Israel until the later gives an apology. Prime Minister Helen Clark has described the incident as a breech of the nation's sovereignty and international laws.

(Source: Passport case hurts ties with Israel, One News, TVNZ)

Why do they want a New Zealand passport? Some conspiracy theorists suggest that claiming as New Zealanders they can infiltrate organisations that has dealings with Israel's 'enemies' as New Zealand is seen as a friendly and neutral nation. I think I read this on a Herald feature months ago.

We live in mysterious days...