With Allies like Israel, Who Needs Enemies?

Yet another case of Israeli spying on the United States is in the news today. It was discovered back in the spring that for six years, from 1979 to 1985, U.S. Army mechanical engineer Ben-ami Kadish had been letting Israeli agents photograph classified documents that he snuck home from work. Kadish's handler back then was Yossi Yagur, who also directed Jonathan Pollard.

Pollard was caught while committing his crimes and as such, is serving a life sentence in Butner Federal Correctional Institution in South Carolina. Israel granted him retroactive citizenship in 1995 and now lobbies for his release. [Ed. Don't be surprised if Pollard is on George Bush's last minute pardon list.]

Kadish's crime however was not discovered until years after the fact. He retired in 1990. The now 85-year-old Kadish has this week negotiated a non-prison time plea agreement with U.S. Magistrate Judge Theodore H. Katz and Assistant U.S. Attorney Iris Lan.

Quite a cozy deal: treason, espionage, no death sentence, not even prison time. Great work if you can get it, especially since a passport and a luxury condo on the beach in Tel Aviv are probably already ready and waiting.