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.
Klark is right to take the hard line, but on the basis of what's happened with the Rainbow Warrior operatives, she should really return these two once an official apology has been tendered. My feeling is she won't be able to resist being able to play King Helen, southseas warrior prince of all she surveys. This is a sutuation where a real politician is able to show decisiveness in what's expected of a Statesman. This isn't a good time for her to think about taking off overseas or signing her name to someone else's artwork again.
She won't want John Howard as a mediator either, we all know that. No disrespect to Mr Howard at all, but Klark isn't fussed on Australia or the US. I bet Chirac's waiting by his phone [LOL!!!]