Officials: 'Israel doesn't spy in friendly nations'

No spying activities in

By JPOST.COM STAFF, AP
Nozette spy FBI 248 88 (photo credit: Screenshot from NASA's Web site)
Nozette spy FBI 248 88
(photo credit: Screenshot from NASA's Web site)
Senior government officials in Jerusalem said Israel does not gather intelligence nor is it involved in any espionage activities in friendly states, Israel Radio reported on Tuesday morning. The officials made the statement in response to the arrest of US scientist Stewart David Nozette on espionage charges in Maryland on Monday. The US Justice Department claimed Nozette attempted to pass classified information to an FBI agent posing as an Israeli Mossad officer. Nozette, 52, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, was expected to make his initial appearance in federal court in Washington on Tuesday. Law enforcement officials said Nozette did not immediately have a lawyer. Nozette agreed to provide regular, continuing information and asked for an Israeli passport, the affidavit alleged. Over the course of his career, Nozette performed some of his research at the US Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in Arlington, Virginia, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. He developed the Clementine bi-static radar experiment that is credited with discovering water on the south pole of the moon. He also worked at the Energy Department's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he designed highly advanced technology, from approximately 1990 to 1999. At Energy, Nozette held a special security clearance equivalent to the Defense Department's top secret and "critical nuclear weapon design information" clearances. DOE clearances apply to access to information specifically relating to atomic or nuclear-related materials.