NZ quake may have revealed Israeli spy ring

Rescue workers search for victims buried under the rubble near the Canterbury Television building in Christchurch, New Zealand, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011. / AP Photo

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A New Zealand newspaper group is reporting that the deadly February 22nd earthquake in Christchurch unearthed a suspected Israeli spy ring.

Three Israelis died in the quake that killed 181 people. Other Israelis escaped the quake.

The Fairfax newspaper group, which didn't state how it obtained the information, said one of the Israelis who died was carrying at least five passports.

Fairfax said New Zealand Prime Minister John Key took four calls from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the quake, and that an unaccredited Israeli search and rescue squad searching a cordoned area in Christchurch was stopped by New Zealand officers.

NZ leader: Israeli spy ring report unfounded

Key, who is traveling in California, told media Wednesday that it wasn't in the national interest to comment about the report.

The revelation has caused a bit of a political kerfuffle, as opposition party leaders have begun directing pointed public questions at the prime minister.

"Were these young people really just backpackers? Or had an innocent group of tourists been infiltrated by Mossad 'helpers' whose mission it was to take Kiwi identities? If it was the latter, why hasn't the Opposition been briefed (by the prime minister)? What information is he withholding and why?" asked Labour's Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maryan Street, according to The New Zealand Herald.

In 2004, there was a bit of a dustup between Israel and New Zealand over an Israeli passport ring uncovered in New Zealand. Two Israelis were arrested for trying to fraudulently acquire the identity of a man with cerebral palsy, the Herald reports.

Contacts between Israel and New Zealand were frozen at a high level until the Jewish state apologized. It was also discovered at the time that similar such instances had happened previously, the Herald reports.

[kiljare]

Wait...so who will protect Israel when all the other Arab countries who can't decide who they hate more try and gang up on it again. I see the same result as the last time with Israel destroying them quickly and taking more land only to be accused of barbarism later on for protecting themselves. P.S. I'm about the farthest thing you can be from Jewish and even I know that was Palestinians and Arab countries practice in general is Anti-Semitism. Perhaps not by the Nazi definition, but hate is hate regardless of how it is carried out.

[WALKINGLASS]

If the U.S. is 14.4 trillion dollars in the hole now, where to do they steal the money from to give to other countries for weapons? What a bunch of CROOKS.

If the money was going to starving people in other countries, that would suit me fine but giving the money to kill each other with don't make sense.

They kill thousands by letting them starve and some more by shooting them. How many people can they kill before they are happy?

[WALKINGLASS]

If they are eating, it is because other nations are feeding them. I have no problem with that.

Where is your picture showing where the Palestinians have overflowing super markets? Where do U live? In Beverly Hills?

I do not know anything about the bombings except for what little bit I see on the computers. The U.S. gives money to bomb them back but I don't know where they steal the money to kill with since they don't have none.

I love those in Israel and Gaza and especially one of Israel's Sons. They call Him Jesus Christ, Messiah, Immanuel or something like that and about 120 more ways. Do U 'HATE' the Jews? Not me.

The U.S. spends more money killing people than they do keeping them alive. Do U think we should be killing more people just to slide around in their blood?

I think the world should join together and remove ALL BORDERS.

[HiTor15]

Anti Semites? Listen Israel is an Apartheid theocracy that's causing a world of harm by doing what its doing! We are spending trillions of dollars on this country so that some of the Richest people on Earth can take the homes of some of the poorest. If you think that labeling people anti Semites for opposing that will do you good, then as they say MORE POWER TO YOU...but I think in the end IT WILL DO A GREAT DEAL MORE HARM THAN GOOD. You really dont want Judaism to stand for what Israel and the Extremists in the United States are doing, you really dont, and I know there are many Jews who fully realize that. In fact there are many more everyday who are beginning to see WHAT SORT OF REAL HARM THESE RELIGIOUS WARS ARE DOING TO THEM PERSONALLY, especially when only certain people CAN BE CONSIDERED REAL JEWS IN ISRAEL! Stop the nonsense...we need Israel to start supporting real democracy, however hard that may be in its condition, violating the sovereign rights of other nations habitually is not going to do much for Israel in the long run but make it many more enemies, no matter what these people may say to your face.But you know, I really think you already know that. Israel needs to find peace and start trying to support the world as best it can, and stop being a constant antagonist to real Democracy. It is really a true shame when you think about it carefully.

[Gabriel_113]

Oh earth5667, don't you realize that calling everyone an anti-semite for legitimate criticisms of Israel will come back to bite you some day? And your Hasbara propaganda is old and obvious. Any educated person who reads up on the Israel-Palestine conflict is painfully aware that Israel does not and has not ever wanted peace with the Palestinians.

In fact, the majority of accusations thrown at the Palestinians are crimes that Israel is quite guilty of--using human shields, for instance.

I look forward to the day where the US cuts off aid to Israel, Egypt, Jordan and all other corrupt Middle Eastern theocracies. You're a bunch of welfare junkies.

[WALKINGLASS]

Who cares who spies on U if you aren't trying to harm other nations?

God will take care of U if U behave Urself.

He protects and serves me.

[andacar]

He serves you? Well, your infiniteness, I think your thorazine has worn off and the nurses are calling you.

[cbsblogger]

Israel is a threat to every country in the world. They have spied on all countries including USA politicians, military and business phones for decades. They own the US media thus they rarely get exposed.

It surprises me that CBS would mention this.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5133.htm

[Gabriel_113]

Yes earth5667, it's well-known that the Mossad was spying on the 9/11 hijackers and that they celebrated by dancing on a rooftop when the WTC's started to crumble.

Now why would an ally of ours not tell us? Netanyahu had some interesting comments about that. Oh, and how many troops has our staunch ally, Israel, provided in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq?

Wait...zero? But, but I thought they were our ally!?

Oh, and when is Israel going to start providing aid to the US since our economy is in the toilet and theirs is thriving?

Can't wait to hear earth5667, can't wait.

[avgctzn50]

kerfuffle...dustup..? I love the NZ slang. Any way, Israeli spies, very exciting.

[karek40]

What possible reason would Israel have to spy on New Zealand, their military might is staggering, they contol the finances of the world and have made so many technological advancements, yeah right. The guy was probably a criminal who had bought forged pasports and was hiding in New Zealand perhaps in a hobbit hole.

[Mikeknz]

NZ Passports are very valuable for the reasons you describe, its hardly a big threat on a world stage - so a NZ tourist - right under the radar - Im told is the second best passport in the world in terms on not needing Visas to travel practically anywhere. NZ/Aus/Ireland - basically get visa free entry to almost any country with few restrictions or even a second look - what better for a spy - try travelling on a israeli, nigerian, romanian passport and see how easy it is. .

[Jaysonrex31]

EVERY TIME SOMETHING IS PUBLISHED BY THE MEDIA ABOUT THE STATE OF ISRAEL, THE SAME OLD AND TIRED ANTISEMITES RAISE THEIR HEADS AND TRY TO SPILL MORE OF THE OLD VENOM. FOR THEM, IT IS BETTER TO SPIT IT OUT RATHER THAN TO CHOKE ON IT.

WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS THE FACT THAT THE STATE OF ISRAEL IS HERE TO STAY FOREVER AND PROTECT THE JEWS ALL OVER THE WORLD AGAINST THE CHRISTIANS ANTISEMITES. THE QUESTION IS "WHO WILL PROTECT THE CHRISTIANS AGAINST THE MUSLIMS ONCE THE GLOBAL JIHAD STARTS IN EARNEST?"

[AlFranken]

I think you got it backwards -- who will protect Jews/State of Israel from the Muslims when the American Empire falls?

I can see their concern.

[karek40]

And they made war against the saints and power was given them over the saints. From this passage it appears Islam will win until God interviens and prevents the extermination of the Jews, 2/3 of the Jews will be killed before that happens. Gruesome but God doesn't lie.

[Jaysonrex31]

AFTER THIS SENSATIONAL "NEWS", IT IS TIME FOR THE BROWN MEDIA TO INVESTIGATE WITHOUT DELAY THE NOTORIOUS "BLOOD LIBEL". IT MIGHT BE OLD BUT IT MUST STILL HAVE ITS DEDICATED FOLLOWERS. AS WE ALL KNOW ONLY TOO WELL, IT IS ALWAYS THE FAULT OF ISRAEL (MOSSAD, ETC.) NOT TO MENTION THE NOTORIOUS INTERNATIONAL JEWISH CABAL. RIGHT?

[username555-2009]

I think your CAPS LOCK key is stuck...

[GTR5]

Jonathan Pollard needs to stay in prison forever!

[KnowerseekerReturns]

What are you, earth5667, a yes-man for Israel?

[Gabriel_113]

Isn't that obvious KnowerseekerReturns?