TEL AVIV, Israel, July 15 (UPI) -- New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark imposed diplomatic sanctions on Israel after a court in Auckland sentenced two suspected Mossad agents.
The two, Uriel Zosha Kelman, 31, and Elisha Cara, 50, were convicted of trying to obtain a passport under the name of a handicapped New Zealander.
According to the Haaretz newspaper Clark said, "There were very strong reasons to believe (the two) ... were acting on behalf of Israel's intelligence services." The two denied they had Mossad connections..
New Zealand suspended high-level visits, required a visa from every Israeli visitor in an official government capacity, delayed acceptance of a new Israeli ambassador, and said it was not interested in hosting President Moshe Katsav who wanted to visit there in August.
Clark said that three months ago she had asked Israel for an explanation and an apology but received neither.
Kelman and Cara pleaded guilty in the Auckland High Court and were sentenced to six months imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 New Zealand dollars ($32,428) each.
