SPY GAMES

U.S. Eavesdropped on Israeli Embassy

FBI translator leaked conversations to blogger.

Note to those handling classified U.S. information: stay away from bloggers. Last year, in a case shrouded with secrecy, FBI translator Shamai K. Leibowitz was sentenced to 20 months in prison for leaking information to the news media. The New York Times now reports that Leibowitz was passing on wiretaps of the Israeli Embassy in D.C. to blogger Richard Silverstein. The recorded conversations were of American supporters of Israel, embassy officials, and some members of Congress. According to Silverstein, Leibowitz gave the information because he feared a possible Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear plants. Silverstein is coming forward now to show that while Leibowitz was charged under the Espionage Act, his intentions were good. The FBI and Israeli Embassy have not commented yet, but the report offers a revealing look at how the U.S. closely monitored its ally.