Israel denies Zygier contacts with Australia agencies

Jerusalem, Feb 19 (AFP) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office denied today that Ben Zygier, identified in the media as an Australian-Israeli Mossad agent who hanged himself in Israeli detention, had any contact with Australia's security services. "Following recent publications, the prime minister's office stresses that (the late) Mr. Zygier had no contact with the Australian security services and organisations," the office said a statement, in the first mention of Zygier's name by Israel. The office, which is in charge of Israel's Mossad spy agency, issued the statement after a court said an unnamed inmate committed suicide in an Israeli prison in 2010. Australia's national broadcaster the ABC, which broke the story last week, said Zygier was arrested after giving Australian intelligence officials a comprehensive account of a number of Mossad operations. The Israeli statement today also stressed that "between Israel and all its organisations and Australia and the Australian security organisations there is excellent cooperation, full coordination and full transparency in dealing with issues at hand." (AFP) SAI 02200140 NNNN