US ACCUSES ISRAEL OF INDUSTRIAL SPYING

US accuses Israel of industrial spying By ARIEH O'SULLIVAN
Israel has called reported accusations from the United States Wednesday that its defense officials were engaged in industrial espionage a misunderstanding based on chutzpah and general nosiness.

The FBI has investigated suspicions that Israeli representatives visiting factories and weapons exhibitions in the United States attempted to collect classified data about American technologies, Army radio reported. According to the report, FBI agents questioned Israeli representatives, including IDF officers, defense officials, members of defense industries and even a diplomat over the last few months. The questioning came both during and after their trips and focused on their attempts to collect secret technical and scientific information on weapons systems, the radio said.

The FBI investigation led to a seminar in New York two weeks ago where they were briefed on guidelines and proper conduct to tone down Israeli curiosity to prevent setting off US suspicions that they were engaged in illegal subterfuge.

In response to the report, the Defense Ministry confirmed steps were being taken to prevent "misunderstanding that stems from different cultures and codes of behavior."

IN RELATED NEWS, A BUBBE IN CHICAGO WAS CHARGED WITH VIOLATING MEDICAL PRIVACY LAWS BY INQUIRING TOO AGGRESSIVELY ABOUT THE HEALTH OF HER GRANDDAUGHTER'S FIANCE.