Canadians watch unfolding passport case

By FRAN O'SULLIVAN, assistant editor

Canadian authorities are looking into the Israeli passport case unfolding in Auckland.

In 1997, Israel gave Canada a solemn assurance it would ensure that Canadian passports would not be used for covert purposes. Two Mossad agents had been caught using fake Canadian passports during a failed assassination attempt on Khalid Mash-al - a top Hamas official - in Jordan during 1997.

Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Reynald Doiron said the Canadian authorities were aware of the allegations in New Zealand.

"They are investigating the information," he said. "It has to be properly, truly investigated by the competent authorities and the passport office plus the usual people in security and intelligence.

"Your people involved in that line of business don't comment on those cases - and our people don't comment either.

"But suffice to say the matter is properly investigated before any conclusion is drawn.

"All the facts have to be unearthed."

Canadian High Commissioner John Donaghy confirmed he had sent copies of the Herald's exclusive coverage to his bosses in Ottawa. Mr Donaghy has not sought separate discussions with Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff, or his officials: "I don't have any instructions to do that at this stage."

The US embassy declined any comment.

The 1997 revelation that Israeli spies had passed themselves off as Canadians during covert operations angered the Canadian Federal Government which feared the practice would prompt vigilante attacks against ordinary Canadians living or travelling on business in the Middle East.

The then Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy ordered David Berger, the Ambassador to Israel, to leave until Mossad promised to stop the practice.

Mr Berger did not return to Israel until after a letter was sent by Israeli Government officials who pledged to "undertake measures to ensure it never happens again".

Subsequent diplomatic incidents involving the alleged use by Israeli agents of fake Canadian passports have been played down by Ottawa.