Israel refuses to comment on receiving US classified information

Israel refuses to comment on receiving US classified information

The arrest of US scientist Stewart David Nozette on espionage charges has rendered Israel silent.

Israeli officials have declined to comment on the arrest of Mr Nozette, who has been accused in the US of passing classified information to agents he believed were working for the Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency.

The agents were actually working undercover for the US government.

Nozette was arrested on Monday after allegedly telling undercover agents he had been answering to a front company owned by the Israeli government.

That company has been identified in the Israeli press as Israel Aircraft Industries, the country's largest aerospace and defence company.

Nozette has been accused of working as a technical consultant for IAI, giving classified information over a period of ten years for a fee of around $200,000.

Once regarded as White House expert, Nozette had worked over the years for NASA and the US Department of Energy. He held top secret security clearances.

Israeli officials have said there is no reason to comment on the issue considering Nozette had not been accused of spying for Israel.

The senior government officials said Israel does not gather intelligence in or spy on friendly states