Israel can’t catch a break this month.
Even though the Israeli government did no wrongdoing, one former U.S. government employee attempted to sell secrets to the agents that he believed worked for Israel. The man, Stewart David Nozette, worked at the Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Department of Energy, the agency responsible for U.S. nuclear efforts. He also worked at the White House during the first President George H.W. Bush’s tenure.
U.S. counter intelligence officers pretended to be from the Mossad and Nozette willingly agreed to provide secrets to the officers. The FBI statement included:
“The UCE [undercover unit] explained to Nozette that the Israeli intelligence agency, or ‘Mossad,’ would arrange for a communication system so that Nozette could pass information to the Mossad in a post office box,” the department said. “Nozette agreed to provide regular, continuing information to the UCE and asked for an Israeli passport…”
“At the Department of Energy, Nozette held a special security clearance equivalent to the Defense Department Top Secret and Critical Nuclear Weapon Design Information clearances. Department of Energy clearances apply to access to information specifically relating to atomic or nuclear-related materials.”
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice dropped charges against two individuals that allegedly delivered classified materials to Israeli sources.