What's happened here with these Israelis is very serious but keep in mind that they haven't killed anyone.
Helen Klark is correct in demanding an official apology from Israel and when she gets one the agents should be deported, without trial.
Phil Goff made a visit to Yassir Arafat last year, so it's pretty transparent where the Labour government's sympathies lie. Israel should give an apology without delay and ask for their two agents to be returned, in line with textbook Labour government procedure and historical treatment. If she doesn't think carefully, the much coveted trade deal with the US could move even slower.
Yeah, the current international policies are a big cringe (remember the "if Gore had won this wouldn't have happened" comment??)
It would be quite interesting to find out whether Israel asked first for NZ passports for their and were turned down, or if they just went ahead anyway. I suspect the government may have said no if asked, on the basis that if hostile countries found out about it, real kiwis would get hassled along with the spies.
Apparently there is negligible trade between NZ & Israel and neither country even has an embassy in the other's. Helen really hasn't got much to lose by playing this tough.
One has to wonder if this would have played out the same way if the country involved was much more significant to NZ.
You've adapted an interesting take on this one shaggs -- but please don't underestimate the danger to the civilized world posed by Peking Clark and her femmunists' -- and their seemingly open-door policy towards hordes of immigration-outcome seeking islamist "refugees."
Tiny Israel has every right to be afraid of and to keep an eye on every foreign oasis provided its mortal enemies.
Although it aughtn't get caught.
And you'd be suprised, because no-one's ever heard of all y'all, just how many of the folks who slip anonymously about the globe 'keeping an eye on things' travel on New Zealand passports. HehHehHeh .....
Bump.