BICOM

Israeli officials responded to a report by Australia’s ABC television, which claimed that Melbourne-born Ben Zygier, who emigrated to Israel in 2000, was jailed in early 2010 and according to reports committed suicide the same year in the high-security Ayalon Prison near Tel Aviv.

The report said that Zygier was held in total isolation and was known by prison authorities only as ‘Prisoner X’. It was suggested yesterday on Israel Army Radio that Zygier was a Mossad spy who had committed treason. Israeli daily Maariv reports today that Zygier worked for a Mossad shell company in Europe, which sold electronic parts to Iran. Meanwhile, it emerged that Australian journalist Jason Katsoukis had confronted Zygier with spying allegations in 2010, which Zygier reportedly vehemently denied.

The Israeli authorities yesterday partially lifted the gag order banning reporting of the highly sensitive case.  Israel’s Justice Ministry released a statement which did not name Zygier, but confirmed that the prisoner was arrested in2010 and that his “legal rights were observed at all times, according to the law,” including legal representation from a well-known law firm. The statement also said that “his family was immediately informed of his arrest” and that a judge ordered an enquiry into his death, which recently reached a conclusion of suicide.

The Israeli media is discussing the case in detail, with newspapers devoting several pages to the story this morning. Writing in Yediot Ahronot, Shimon Shiffer calls for a state commission of enquiry due to the “numerous and disturbing” questions surrounding the case. However, Nadav Eyal in Maariv says that due process had clearly been observed and criticizes Israeli authorities for not assuaging concerns more quickly. Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said yesterday that contrary to previous statements, Australian officials had been notified of Zygier’s arrest.